Create Opportunities

An open procurement is typically used for high-value contracts and is accessible for all suppliers to bid on, meaning you’ll have a broad selection to choose from as a  buyer.

1. Click ‘Create Opportunity’ on the left side of your buyer’s dashboard

2. Navigate to the ‘Procurements’ tab and select ‘Open’

3. Click ‘Start opportunity creation’ and enter your procurement details

4. Request a selection questionnaire from suppliers (optional)

5. Add in your technical questions for suppliers to respond to 

6. Add your commercial response/template

7. Include a set of social value questions either from the Social Value Model or a custom theme (this step is optional)

8. Review all the details and click ‘Publish’ if you’re happy with it

9. Confirm ‘Publish’ in pop-up modal

Note: Under step 4, some supplier data may soon be automatically gathered from the Central Digital Platform after the integration is completed. 

Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP) is a procurement route introduced under the Procurement Act 2023, giving buyers the flexibility to design their own tendering process. 

1. Select ‘Create opportunity’ to the left of your dashboard

2. Select 'Procurements' from the tabs and click on 'Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP)'

3. If your company has previously created an CFP template, you can click ‘View details’ of an existing template to create a new opportunity based on preselected settings

4. Select which template you’d like to use and then, in the pop up, click ‘Next step’

5. Start putting together your procurement details

6. Once complete, click ‘Next step’ and you have the chance to review your procurement before publishing it

7. Click 'Publish' and confirm in the pop-up modal once your happy for it to go!

Note: For more detailed description on how to put together your CFP please click here.

A mini-competition allows you to run a procurement process using a framework or a Dynamic Market. It provides a quicker way to find the right supplier from a pre-approved list.

1. Click 'Create Opportunity' from your Buyer dashboard

2. Navigate to 'Use Framework/Dynamic Market' and click 'Mini Competition'

3. You’ll then need to search for the Framework or Dynamic Market that you’d like to use. This dropdown will only show the Frameworks and Dynamic Market that your organisation has access to. Click Use Framework/Dynamic Market and add your competition details

4. View the list of suppliers included. This step varies depending on if you're using a framework or dynamic market

For a Dynamic Market:

The list of suppliers is only visible during the review stage of the mini-competition creation process. 

For a Framework

You’ll be able to view the list of suppliers within the framework during the second step of creating your competition.

5. Add your details, including:

   • Technical questions

   • Commercial response/template

   • Social value assessment (optional)

6. Review the details and make sure you’re happy

7. Click Publish to finalise your mini-competition

Note: Before publishing, you can edit any section by clicking the edit icon next to it.

Quick Quote is a faster process for lower-value competitions that can be run both on or off a framework. This method allows you to invite a minimum of three suppliers to provide quotes, and only those invited suppliers on the Cimple platform will be able to provide one. 

1. Navigate to 'Create Opportunity' and select the 'Low Value Purchases' tab

2. Click 'Quick Quote' to begin the opportunity creation process

3. Decide whether to use a framework or proceed without one

4. Add your competition details

5. Select the suppliers for the opportunity (minimum of 3)

6. Review your opportunity to ensure all information is good to go

7. Click 'Publish' and confirm in the pop-up modal

Note: In step 5, If you can’t find a supplier on Cimple, you can manually add their details and invite them to join the platform.

A Direct Award is a quick and simple process where a public contract is awarded to a supplier without a competitive tender. It’s ideal for urgent, low-value, and low-volume requirements.

1. Navigate to 'Create Opportunity' and select the 'Low Value Purchases' tab

2. Click 'Direct Award' to begin the opportunity creation process

3. Decide whether to use a framework or proceed without one

4. Add your opportunity details

5. Select the supplier for the opportunity (maximum of 1)

6. Review your details to ensure accuracy

7. Click 'Publish' to finalise your opportunity

An opportunity to gather market insights and feedback from suppliers to inform procurement decisions. 

1. Select Notices from the tabs and click on Preliminary Market Engagement Notice

2. Start Opportunity creation 

3. Add all relevant and key procurement details

4. Click ‘Publish’ 

5. Confirm ‘Publish’ in pop-up modal

This is a short notice to provide information to potential suppliers on procurements which are likely to be published in the future.

1. Click 'Create Opportunity' from your Buyer dashboard

2. Select Notices from the tabs and click on 'Planned procurement Notice'

3. Start putting together your notice

4. When you’re done, click ‘Publish’ 

5. Confirm ‘Publish’ in pop-up modal, and you’re good to go!

Under the Procurement Act 2023, a Transparency Notice is a key tool for contracting authorities to declare their intent to award a contract directly without a competitive process. It enhances transparency, ensuring the market is informed about the decision and the reasoning behind it.

1. Click 'Create Opportunity' from your Buyer dashboard

2. Select 'Notices' from the available tabs and click 'Transparency Notice'

3. Click 'Start Opportunity Creation' to begin drafting your notice

4. Add the key details for your notice, including the procurement details and supplier information

5. Once you’re happy with all the information entered, click Publish.

6. Click confirm 'Publish' in the pop-up modal, and your notice will be live!