A contracting authority is any public sector organisation or body that has the legal power to procure goods, services, or works on behalf of itself or others. This includes government departments, local authorities, NHS bodies, educational institutions—and, in some cases, sector-specific organisations such as the Charities Buying Group (CBG).

Being a contracting authority means the organisation can:

• Run and manage procurement frameworks.

• Award contracts directly to approved suppliers under those frameworks.

• Ensure compliance with public procurement regulations and value-for-money principles.

In simpler terms, a contracting authority is the entity responsible for buying—the organisation that controls how and where public money is spent on goods and services.

Contracting authorities play a crucial role in ensuring public funds are spent responsibly and transparently. They not only select suppliers but also set expectations around quality, ethics, sustainability, and—most importantly—social value.

At SVDS, we partner with contracting authorities to help them integrate social value outcomes into their procurement processes. This ensures that every contract awarded doesn’t just deliver what’s needed—it also creates a positive impact in local communities.

Our day rate approach gives vendors a simple and transparent way to access professional support without long-term contracts or hidden costs. Vendors can engage SVDS on a project basis, paying a fixed day rate for our time and expertise.

This flexibility means suppliers can use our services at key stages of their procurement journey, including:

• Tender preparation and review – ensuring bids are compliant, competitive, and socially impactful.

• Social value planning – helping define and evidence meaningful community, environmental, and economic outcomes.

• Delivery and measurement – building frameworks to track, report, and demonstrate the social value created through each contract.

Our goal is to make it easier for vendors to meet contracting authority expectations and strengthen their overall tender submissions.

By using SVDS on a day rate basis, vendors gain flexibility, clarity, and expert guidance exactly when it’s needed most.

Key benefits include:

• Transparent pricing – know exactly what you’re paying for, with no ongoing fees.

• Scalable support – bring us in for a single tender or multiple projects.

• Specialist expertise – access professionals experienced in public sector procurement and social value delivery.

• Improved tender success – enhance bid quality and align proposals with the social value goals of contracting authorities such as councils, the NHS, and government bodies.

This approach allows every supplier—large or small—to build confidence, credibility, and measurable impact in their bids, while keeping costs predictable and manageable.

What makes CBG unique is that it is not only an awarding authority (setting up compliant frameworks), but also a contracting authority.

This means charities and other members can:

• Buy directly from the frameworks without having to run their own tender process.

• Access pre-approved suppliers with full confidence in compliance and quality.

• Save significant time and resources, focusing more on their mission.

By being a contracting authority, CBG removes one of the biggest barriers charities face—procurement complexity—and creates a clear, accessible route to trusted suppliers.

Both SVDS and CBG believe in the power of collaboration. By embedding social value at the heart of the CBG frameworks, we’re helping ensure that every contract awarded doesn’t just deliver on cost and quality—but also contributes to a fairer, stronger, and more sustainable society.

If your organisation is part of the Charities Buying Group frameworks, you’re already in a position to take advantage of this partnership. Together, we can ensure your procurement choices have a lasting positive impact—beyond the bottom line.