If you think a tender went wrong

Anybody may raise a concern about how we bought something. A supplier who
bid, a supplier who did not, a member of staff, or somebody in a community
we work in.

You do not need an account

Concerns can be submitted without signing in. You do not have to give your
name.

If you do not, keep the reference number you are given. For an anonymous
report it is the only way to follow it up, and we cannot send you a new
one.

If you give your name

It is encrypted and kept separately from the rest of the record. People
working on unrelated parts of the system cannot see it.

What happens

1. We acknowledge it, usually within three days.
2. Somebody independent is assigned. Never the person whose decision you are questioning. The system will not allow it.
3. They look into it. If your concern is about a live tender, the parts you are questioning are held while they do.
4. You get a written finding, whether we agree with you or not.
5. If we agree, we say what we are going to do about it.
6. You may appeal.

If you are a bidder challenging an award

Do it during the standstill period. That is the published pause between us
announcing who won and us acting on it.

It exists so a mistake can be fixed cheaply. After a contract is signed,
the remedies are much more limited, so use the window.

An open challenge holds the award. It is not noted and worked around.

If you are reporting wrongdoing

Tell us if you think you might face retaliation. It changes how the report
is handled and who can see it.

We would rather hear something and find it was a misunderstanding than
have you decide it was not worth the risk.