What we buy

The OU buys goods, works and services from over 3,000 suppliers each year. The main types of purchases include the production of student module materials, IT software and hardware, estate management services, marketing, and business consultancy.

How we buy

The Open University is a public sector body and therefore purchases for goods, services and works are made in line with the European Procurement Directives 2015. 

We use a combination of:

• Formal tendering - tender opportunities are advertised in Contracts Finder, and managed via the OU’s Intend e-tendering portal
• Public sector collaborative frameworks - for example, the OU are a member of the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) 
• Direct Request For Quote (RFQ) - for lower value non contracted purchases.

Please ensure you have a valid PO number from the OU before submitting an invoice, valid POs are prefixed with 45, 48 or POL.

Becoming a supplier and contract opportunities

Before entering into a contract or agreement with a supplier, The Open University usually undertakes a competitive process and will ask a supplier to submit a quotation or tender for the contract.

The Open University does not place contracts in response to direct marketing.

Responsible Procurement

Sustainability is one of the University’s 5 strategic goals and reflects the importance that environmental and social sustainability is to the University in delivering its mission.

The University’s Procurement Strategy has responsible procurement as one of its 6 key principles with the aim that:

“Social and environmental responsibility lies at the heart of procurement activities. Ethical (including equality & diversity) and environmental considerations are embedded into the procurement cycle, targeted to support the University’s wider sustainability objectives.”

For more information on:

• The Open University sustainability strategic objectives: Sustainability at The Open University
• The Open University Responsible Procurement Strategy

Sustain Supply Code of Conduct

The Open University are committed to carrying out procurement activities in an environmentally, socially, ethically and economically responsible manner and to entering into agreements and contracts with suppliers that share and adhere to our vision. The standards in this Code are derived from established global conventions and standards, including the UN SDGs, ETI base Code and ILO Conventions. 

To demonstrate this commitment, current and potential suppliers are asked to commit to Responsible/Sustainable procurement within their organisations and to acknowledge their compliance with the principles of the Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct, below, with respect to their organisation and their supply chain (reference to “Suppliers” in this code means Suppliers and their supply chains).   

Copy of the Sustain Supply Code of Conduct 

To sign up to The Open University Sustain Supply Code of Conduct and help the University in this key objective, please complete and submit this short form : Sustain Supply Code of Conduct Response Form

NETpositives Futures

The Open University have engaged NETpositive Futures to help us progress along the flexible framework with the aim of achieving level 4. The Open University are also encouraging suppliers to sign up and actively use the NETpositive Supplier Engagement Tool, which enables suppliers to develop a sustainability action plan in line with the environmental, sustainability and institutional objectives of the OU.

Access the NETpositive Future supplier engagement tool here : http://supplierengagementhe.net-positive.org/

Further information on NETpositives Futures