A guide to selling goods and services to King's
This guide aims to help potential suppliers understand how we do business and what procedures we will follow when procuring goods and services.
What does the university buy?
There are four main categories of expenditure:
- Estates & Facilities
- IT
- Science & Research
- Corporate & Travel Services
How does the College produce purchase orders?
The University generates purchase requisitions through the King's Finance (KFin).
We operate a 'no purchase order, no pay' policy.
For more information (internal access only), please refer to the relevant webpages.
Are there prescribed procedures that College must follow when approaching the market?
King’s College London is not a public body within the meaning of the public procurement legislation.
Where the university decides to advertise in Contracts Finder, Find a Tender or other government portal it does so on a voluntary basis and does not undertake any obligation to comply with procurement legislation.
The university reserves the right in full to adapt or step outside of the procedures in procurement legislation as it considers necessary.
The procedure the university commits to following for any individual procurement will be explained in the relevant tender documentation.
However, King's is committed to ensuring that all suppliers are treated fairly and without discrimination by acting in a transparent and proportionate manner and has established the procedures set out below.
The procedures that we follow are dependant on the indicative value of the contract and the source of the funding. Generally, the threshold values and associated procedures are detailed below.
- Below £25,000 - no formal quotations are mandated, but justification for selection may still be required. Quotations can be obtained via email, phone or via the web.
- Between £25,000 and £100,000 - the use of a qualifying procurement framework or Request for Quotation (RFQ) procedures are followed. Quotations are obtained in a written format and a record of comparison should be maintained.
- Over £100,000 - the use of a qualifying procurement framework or a tendering procedure applies.
Where can information be found regarding forthcoming university contracts?
Contracts that are subject to a formal tendering process are advertised in a variety of ways, trade journals, trade organisations and the King's e-tendering portal.
In order to express an interest in any university contracts or to find out about future opportunities, you should register on the King's e-tendering portal.
The procedure followed for any individual procurement will be fully explained in the relevant tender documentation.
Terms & Conditions
The University's Form of Contract for the Purchase of Goods and/or Services is applied to the majority of the University purchases as a default governing agreement unless stated and/or advised otherwise.
The University can also utilise a Consultancy-specific Form of Contract where its applicability shall be advised at the point of requirement.