News and Articles

NEPO has invited suppliers to participate in market consultation activity to help shape a multi-supplier procurement solution for the provision of volume cut sized paper and production specialist paper.

The tendering opportunity will be advertised and procured via Open, NEPO’s new e-tendering platform (www.open-uk.org).

It is anticipated that the framework agreement will be used by public sector organisations across the UK and will be awarded by September 2023.

How to get involved:

Soft market testing questionnaire

The first phase of the market consultation activity is a questionnaire designed to gain market insight to help shape the framework agreement and to gauge interest in the tendering opportunity. Click here to find out more. The deadline for completed questionnaires is Noon Friday 20 January 2023.

Please note that interested suppliers will need to register on Open at www.open-uk.org, in order to access and complete the soft market testing questionnaire (registration is free of charge).

Market consultation meetings

In addition, interested suppliers can take part in market consultation meetings. Appointments can be arranged by emailing Bethany Wake, Procurement Coordinator at NEPO (bethany.wake@nepo.org). The appointments will last for one hour, and will take place on Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 23 January. Please get in touch before Noon Friday 20 January 2023 to request an appointment.

Join us at the next in our series of monthly webinars where the Open team will show you how to get started on Open, the new e-procurement platform from NEPO and the North East local authorities.

The team will talk through the registration process and offer hints and tips to help you get the most out of your account.

The one-hour session takes place at 11am on Tuesday 31 January.

Click here to book your free place

NEPO has issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for a new solution covering the supply and delivery of road traffic management services and associated equipment.

This marks the first competitive opportunity advertised on Open since its launch on 17th October 2022. 

NEPO225 Traffic Management includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Set up, maintain and remove traffic management as specified by each Order, including provision of all signage and all associated equipment
• Temporary traffic signals
• Temporary lane closures
• Planned road closures
• Temporary road closure with fully signed diversionary route 
• Mobile lane closures
• Provide 24hr emergency call out
• Manufacture and supply of temporary works information boards
• Traffic Management Events

The framework agreement is split into seven regional Lots as listed below:

• Lot 1 - Traffic Management - Durham
• Lot 2 - Traffic Management - Tyne and Wear
• Lot 3 - Traffic Management - Tees Valley
• Lot 4 - Event Traffic Management – Durham
• Lot 5 – Event Traffic Management – Tyne and Wear
• Lot 6 – Event Traffic Management – Tees Valley
• Lot 7 - Newcastle Planned Major Road Closures

Interested suppliers are able to tender for one or more, or all Lots. It is anticipated that up to five suppliers will be awarded a place on Lots 1-6 and three suppliers awarded on Lot 7.

The closing date for tenders is Noon, Wednesday 4^th January 2023.

It is anticipated that the new solution will be in place by June 2023 and will be available for use by public sector organisations across the North East.

Click here to find out more and express an interest.

Have you registered on Open? Register an account to receive notifications relevant to this opportunity. Registration is free of charge and will ensure you are bid-ready.  

Due to popular demand, we are offering a second session of our supplier webinar on Wednesday 14th December 2022 (14:30 - 15:30)

During the webinar, the Open team will provide a walk-through of the new platform and share tips on how to get the best out of your account.

Click here to book your free place.

NEPO is a holding a free webinar to help suppliers get started on Open the new e-procurement platform.

What is Open?

Open is the new e-procurement platform that will transform how businesses find and bid for competitive opportunities.

The system will gradually replace the NEPO Portal which has been used by NEPO and the

Businesses and VCSEs are now able to register on Open at www.open-uk.org, in anticipation of the first wave of tendering opportunities. Registration is free of charge and will ensure suppliers are bid-ready.

What will be covered?

To help suppliers get registered we’re hosting the first of our monthly supplier webinars on Wednesday 16 November 2022.

You will have the opportunity to meet the Open team and receive hints and tips on how to get the most out of the new system.

Click here to book your free place.

NEPO and the twelve North East local authorities have launched Open, a new e-procurement platform that will transform how businesses find and bid for competitive opportunities.

The cloud-based system will replace the NEPO Portal which has been used by NEPO and the twelve North East local authorities for over twenty years.

Businesses and VCSEs are now able to register on Open at www.open-uk.org, in anticipation of the first wave of tendering opportunities. Registration is free of charge and will ensure suppliers are bid-ready.

NEPO will be the first public sector organisation to use Open to run a competitive process. Following a phased implementation during 2023, all North East local authorities will be using Open to buy goods, works and services.

Nicola Shelley, Managing Director at NEPO, said:

“In 2019, NEPO and its local authority members commissioned an ambitious project to transform public sector procurement. Our vision was to use technology to unlock better, smarter ways of working. We needed a system that was tailored to the needs of public sector buyers and suppliers, resulting in us building our own platform that supports the entire procurement process from commissioning through to contract management.

“Through close consultation with suppliers, procurement professionals and technical experts, we have developed a procurement platform that offers an improved experience through intelligent use of data and user-centred design.

“NEPO is committed to supporting North East suppliers to win work from the public sector and beyond. We urge suppliers from the business community and VCSE sector to register on Open. Every year NEPO and its members publish around 6,000 competitive opportunities covering all kinds of goods and services. Registering on Open means that you will be notified of relevant opportunities and able to compete to win public sector work.”

For more information and to register on Open visit www.open-uk.org.

You will be able to register an Open account from 17th October 2022 onwards. To ensure you receive all the relevant information needed to register, sign up to the mailing list by emailing comms@nepo.org.

Please note, there will be a phased roll-out of tendering opportunities during 2023. We do recommend that you register an account from 17th October – this will ensure you are notified when relevant opportunities are available in your area.

For those that are a contracted supplier to NEPO or one of the North East local authorities, your awarded contracts will be transferred from the NEPO Portal and available to access once an account is created.

In the meantime, why not watch our demo video for a sneak-peek of the system, or check out our new training guides to help you get prepared.

You can also download a copy of the timeline here.

As a registered supplier on the NEPO Portal, we want to ensure you are kept informed of the latest news and updates before Go Live.

Want to receive future updates direct? You can sign up to the mailing list by emailing comms@nepo.org

What is Open?

Open is the new fully integrated e-procurement solution, designed and developed by NEPO. Open has been designed to optimise the way we do business in the public sector, and has been developed with feedback from buyers and suppliers.

As Open is rolled-out over the coming year, we will no longer publish opportunities on the NEPO Portal. 

What do I need to do differently?

You will need to create an Open account in order to access, respond to, or bid for public sector opportunities issued by NEPO and the twelve North East local authorities - but don't worry we will give you all the information you need to register this autumn.

Training and resources

Watch the demo video for a sneak preview of the system.