Procurement - How we buy goods and services

At Gateway, we want to make sure the goods, works and services we buy are:

  • Good quality
  • Offer value for money
  • Get the best possible outcomes for our customers

We work with Shared Services for Housing (SSfH), a procurement specialist that supports housing organisations like ours. Working together, we make sure our purchasing decisions are fair, transparent and follow the relevant regulations.

How our procurement process works

When we need to buy goods or services, such as repairs, maintenance or major building works, we work with SSfH to agree what is needed and how best to deliver it. 

We consider: 

  • What we need: The work or service required and when it needs to be delivered
  • Quality: Making sure services meet the needs of our residents and relevant safety and legal standards
  • Social value: Looking at how suppliers can make a positive difference to our communities, such as creating local jobs, supporting sustainability or improving wellbeing
  • Cost and timescales: Making sure projects are affordable and delivered on time. 
Our approach to choosing suppliers

We want to give suppliers a fair opportunity to work with us. Depending on the type and value of the contract, we use different approaches to select the right supplier. 

Our procurement methods include: 

  • Framework agreements: Using a list of suppliers who have already been through an approved tender process
  • Requests for quotations: Asking suppliers to provide prices and details of how they would deliver the work
  • Formal tenders: Running a structured competition where suppliers submit proposals against agreed requirements. 
How we assess bids

We assess bids against clear criteria to help us choose the supplier that offers the best overall value. 

These may include: 

  • Price and value for money 
  • Quality of service and how the work will be delivered 
  • Customer care and resident experience 
  • Potential risks and how they will be managed 
  • Environmental and social benefits.
Making sure our processes are fair

Working with SSfH helps us make sure our procurement activities follow relevant UK regulations and good practice. 

This means: 

  • Our processes are open, fair and transparent 
  • Suppliers are assessed consistently 
  • Decisions are properly recorded 
  • Risks are identified and managed. 
Delivering value for our customers

Our responsibility doesn't end when a contract is awarded. 

We continue to monitor supplier performance to make sure services meet the standards we expect, contracts are delivered effectively and residents receive good-quality services. 

We are committed to working with suppliers who share our focus on quality, accountability and delivering value for money.