Buyer

The public body running a tender, such as a department, city, health authority or university. Also called the contracting authority or contracting entity.

Also called: Contracting authority, Procuring entity, Agency

Related terms

Tender

A public buyer’s formal invitation for suppliers to offer to do a piece of work, and the offer a supplier sends back. Tenders set out what is needed, how bids will be scored and the deadline.

Procurement pipeline

A public list of contracts a buyer expects to tender over the next year or more. Pipelines let small firms plan bids and teaming well ahead of the notice.