What we buy

This section covers a range of programmes and initiatives, aimed at providing support to find and retain work, that are delivered through contracts. These include:

• services delivered to working age customers who are unemployed or require support while in work, and
• a wide range of products, goods and services to meet the needs of more than 100,000 DWP personnel employed in delivering services to the public.

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Transparency

In line with Government policy, DWP publishes information about its contracts and procurement activity, and details of its overall spend.

• Transparency in procurement

Contracting categories

The primary categories of products, goods and services sourced are below:

• Welfare to Work services
  Currently includes The Work Programme which will be an integrated package of support providing personalised help for people who find themselves out of work based on need rather than benefit claimed.
• Access to Work
  The Access to Work Programme is a Jobcentre Plus grant scheme which assists disabled people who are in paid employment, or with Job/Work Trial, by providing practical support in overcoming work related obstacles resulting from their disability.
• Information Systems/Information Technology
  The procurement of IT products and related services is undertaken by Corporate IT's Strategic Sourcing Directorate (SSD).
• Professional services
  DWP operates a number of framework contracts for the supply of consultancy and professional services, including: Business, IS/IT and Communications Consultancy, Legal, Financial, Human Resources (HR) and Learning and Development Services, and a broad range of contractor resources including IT, HR, Finance, Communications specialists, and HR services.
• Estates and Facilities Management
  The DWP occupies approximately 1,150 properties across the U.K. The vast majority of these are occupied under the terms of the PRIME (Private Sector Resource Initiative for Management of the Estate) contract which took effect in April 1998 and runs for 20 years. The contract is held by Telereal Trillium.
• General Goods and Services
  The range of services that the Department sources from external suppliers includes:
  • Document handling
  • Office services
  • Print, marketing and communications services
  • Business travel services
  • Occupational Health Services
• Learning and Development
  Buying Solutions has let a series of Learning and Development and e-Learning Solutions Framework Agreements as a pan-Government resource. DWP uses the Framework as sourcing route for external L&D requirements.
• Marketing and publicity
  DWP operates a number of framework agreements for the supply of marketing and communications services.

The links to the left will take you to more information about the categories that interest your organisation.

Additional website links will take you directly to those business units that specify their own requirements and carry out their own sourcing.

Please send any enquiries or feedback on this section to the Supplier Relationship Management team at quarryhouse.supplyingdwpqh@dwp.gsi.gov.uk. All emails sent to this address will be given to the person most able to deal with your query. However, we cannot guarantee that general queries made by telephone will reach the right person, so please use this email address for all general queries to the Supplier Relationship Management Team.