A small business guide to working with LCC
A clear introduction for businesses that have not worked with Lancashire County Council before
Welcome
Lancashire County Council works with businesses of all sizes to provide the goods, services and works needed to support residents and communities across Lancashire. You do not need to be a large business or an existing council supplier to take part. Start by finding an opportunity that suits your business and clearly explain how you can meet the council’s requirements.
What does Lancashire County Council buy?
Lancashire County Council buys a wide range of goods, services and works to support council services and Lancashire communities.
Goods: Equipment, materials, technology and supplies
Services: Consultancy, care, transport and specialist support
Works: Construction, repairs, highways and property-related activity
Before considering an opportunity
Does it match what your business provides?
Can you meet the timescales and contract requirements?
Do you have the people, experience and resources needed?
Can you provide evidence of similar work?
Check whether collaboration with another organisation or consortium would improve your ability to deliver the contract
1. Register as a supplier
Register on the Fusion Supplier Portal to access procurement documents and take part in relevant tendering processes.
View opportunities
Access procurement documents
Respond to quotations
Submit tenders
Receive procurement notifications
Maintain your supplier information
Register on the Fusion Supplier Portal
2. Find a suitable opportunity
Focus on opportunities that match your experience, capacity and services. You do not need to bid for every opportunity.
Current tender opportunities: See opportunities currently open for businesses to apply for.
Procurement Pipeline: See contracts expected to come to market and plan ahead.
Contract Register: View information about contracts already in place.
Find a Tender: Search the UK public procurement service used to advertise public sector opportunities.
Consortium Exchange: If a contract appears too large or requires experience beyond your current capacity, consider collaborating with other organisations.
Lancashire County Council operates a Consortium Exchange Register that helps businesses, social enterprises, voluntary organisations and other suppliers connect with potential partners. Working together through a consortium can strengthen a bid by combining expertise, resources and capacity.
Explore the Consortium Exchange Register or contact consortiumexchange@lancashire.gov.uk.
Check before deciding to bid
Scope of the requirement
Contract value and duration
Submission deadline
Minimum requirements
Evaluation criteria
Insurance, certification or accreditation requirements
Whether the contract is manageable for your business
Be selective: If an opportunity is not a good fit, it may be better to wait for one that more closely matches your business.
3. What to expect when bidding
Each opportunity will include documents explaining what Lancashire County Council wants to buy, how to respond, how bids will be evaluated, the deadline, pricing requirements and proposed contract terms.
Preparing your bid
Read all documents before starting
Answer every part of each question
Use clear and straightforward language
Explain how you will deliver the requirement
Consider whether a consortium approach would provide additional expertise, capacity or local coverage for the requirement
Provide relevant examples and evidence
Follow word or page limits
Complete all required forms
Check pricing carefully
Ask clarification questions if anything is unclear
Important: Evaluators can only assess the information included in your response. Do not assume Lancashire County Council already knows about your business or previous experience.
Before submitting
☐ Every question has been answered
☐ All requested documents are attached
☐ Pricing information is complete
☐ The response follows the instructions
☐ The submission has uploaded successfully
☐ The bid is submitted before the deadline
Allow time for possible technical or upload issues. Avoid waiting until the final few minutes.
4. Understand Social Value
Social Value is about the wider benefits that can be delivered alongside a contract. Depending on the opportunity, this may include employment and skills, training, local supply chains, community support or environmental improvements.
Small businesses can make a meaningful contribution. Commitments should be relevant, realistic and proportionate to the size of the contract and your business.
Visit Lancashire County Council's Social Value page
5. Understand how Lancashire County Council works with suppliers
The Lancashire Supplier Charter explains how Lancashire County Council and its suppliers will work together. It sets out shared principles, commitments and expectations for strong, transparent partnerships that deliver value for Lancashire.
Read the Lancashire Supplier Charter
6. Meet the Buyer and supplier events
Lancashire County Council may arrange Meet the Buyer events, market engagement sessions, procurement briefings, supplier feedback sessions, Social Value workshops and webinars. These can help you understand how Lancashire County Council buys, learn about opportunities, meet relevant teams and ask general questions.
These events can also help organisations identify potential partners for future opportunities. Suppliers may additionally use Lancashire County Council Consortium Exchange Register to connect with organisations that have complementary skills, resources or experience when considering a collaborative bid.
View Meet the Buyer and supplier events
7. Where to get help
Procurement Information Management
Supplier registration, procurement systems and general procurement enquiries.
Commercial Contract Management
Contract management, supplier relationships and support during contract delivery.
procurementcontractmanagement@lancashire.gov.uk
For category-specific enquiries, use the full contact directory on the Lancashire County Council Help page.
Quick checklist
☐ Register on the Supplier Portal
☐ Keep your supplier details up to date
☐ Review current and future opportunities
☐ Choose an opportunity that suits your business
☐ Consider whether joining or forming a consortium would strengthen your bid for larger or more complex opportunities
☐ Read every procurement document
☐ Check the evaluation criteria
☐ Ask questions if anything is unclear
☐ Answer every part of each question
☐ Provide evidence and examples
☐ Make realistic Social Value commitments
☐ Upload all requested documents
☐ Submit in plenty of time
Final message
Public sector tendering may feel unfamiliar at first. Start with an opportunity that suits your business, read the documents carefully, provide clear evidence and ask questions when something is unclear. Lancashire County Council welcomes interest from businesses of all sizes.