Local Companies invited to tender for Kent Contracts

Contracts worth £13.6 million for cleaning chemicals and £2.6m for breakfast supplies have been put out for tender by Kent County Council.

The authority is offering local businesses a chance to bid for the contracts, which are currently worth a total of at least £44.8m and also include £15m for office furniture and almost £300,000 for "office fasteners". The move by KCC is on behalf of a number of councils throughout the region.

Cabinet member for corporate support services, Cllr Roger Gough, said:

"These figures do not represent expenditure by KCC alone but are the total value of the current contracts set up on behalf of and accessed by any of the 74 local authorities that make up the south-east region. Subject to KCC complying with EU procurement rules, these contracts are available for businesses to tender for, including those in Kent."

Some of the contracts - including one worth £135,000 for bagged salt - have already passed their renewal dates while others are not due to be renewed for months. These include one worth £9m for "audio visual solutions" and another worth £1m for wooden storage furniture.

Firms interested in applying for any of the contracts can call KCC's director of commercial services Kevin Harlock on 01622 605352.