Procurement
Working with USEL
USEL is a leading social enterprise in Northern Ireland, dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and health conditions through meaningful employment and training.
By tendering with USEL, you’re not just receiving quality services — you’re making a significant impact on the community, helping us transform lives and foster independence for those who need it most.
1,100+
People supported into employment annually
195
Employees — 80%+ have a disability
60+
Years of impact across Northern Ireland
The tender process
How it works
The process depends on the total value of the procurement exercise. Here’s what to expect at each stage.
01. Submit your tender
Answer all questions in the Qualification, Technical and Commercial sections. Attach supporting documentation if requested. Provide evidence for all statements — incomplete submissions may be rejected.
02. Evaluation
All submissions are evaluated by trained USEL employees against criteria outlined in the procurement documents. Panel members complete conflict-of-interest declarations before evaluation begins.
03. Contract award
The contract is awarded by Central Business Unit or Construction & Procurement Delivery on behalf of USEL. Unsuccessful bidders are notified, with a 14-day standstill period for appeals.
Procurement thresholds
Two routes to work with us
Quotation process
These opportunities are not usually advertised. We seek quotes from potential suppliers directly. A procuring officer may consult our internal supplier database.
To add your company to our supplier database, complete our registration form and email it to purchasing@usel.co.uk.
Selected suppliers will receive an ‘Invitation to quote’. Submit your quote within the timeframe — late submissions cannot be accepted.
Registration does not guarantee work.
Formal tender via eTendersNI
All tenders over £10,000 are published on eTendersNI. Registration is free — you’ll receive alerts whenever a tender matching your criteria is advertised.
Submit clarification questions via eTendersNI messaging. Unless commercially sensitive, questions and answers are shared with all potential suppliers.
All documentation must be submitted before the closing date and time. Once the deadline passes, the portal closes.
Need help? Contact ni-eproc-helpdesk@eurodyn.com or call 0800 240 4545.
After you submit
How tenders are evaluated
Every submission goes through the same transparent, structured process.
Each trained panel member independently scores your submission against the published criteria in the procurement documents.
Panel members come together to agree scores by consensus. All evaluators must complete a conflict-of-interest declaration before this stage.
The contract is awarded and all bidders are notified. A standstill period of up to 14 days allows for any appeals or challenges before work begins.
Opportunities
What we buy
This table sets out example areas of our business and what we typically procure in each.
| Business area | Examples of what we buy |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Raw materials, industrial sewing supplies, fabrics, foam, packaging, machinery maintenance |
| Recycling & Shredding | Waste collection vehicles, shredding equipment, bins & containers, PPE, site maintenance |
| Catering (Ability Café) | Food supplies, kitchen equipment, café fit-out, cleaning products, uniforms |
| Employment Services | Training materials, venue hire, assessment tools, IT equipment, accessibility aids |
| Facilities & Property | Building maintenance, security, cleaning services, utilities, office furniture |
| Corporate Services | IT infrastructure, software licences, professional services, insurance, marketing |
Possible opportunities
Upcoming tenders
Opportunities are subject to change depending on business need and funding availability. All tenders over £10,000 are published on eTendersNI.
Get in touch
Selling to us
Interested in becoming a USEL supplier? Fill in the form or email us at info@usel.co.uk
We'll get back to you within one working day — usually sooner.
We'll respond within one working day. For urgent matters call 028 9035 6600.
Supplier privacy notice
Ulster Supported Employment Limited is the Data Controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the personal data it gathers for the purposes of compiling a database of potential suppliers for procurement exercises. USEL accepts that you are providing your personal data on the basis of consent and are positively agreeing for USEL to hold it in order to contact you for the purposes of seeking quotations. This personal data will be made internally available to all USEL staff who will use it to contact you when seeking quotations as part of a procurement process only. Your personal data will not be shared or disclosed to any external organisation without your consent, unless the law permits or places an obligation on USEL to do so. The personal data is held and stored by USEL in a safe and secure manner and in compliance with Data Protection legislation. If you have any queries regarding the processing of your personal data or wish to withdraw your consent, please contact the USEL Data Protection Office at dataprotection@usel.co.uk or telephone 028 9035 6600. You may also write to USEL, 182-188 Cambrai Street, Belfast BT13 3JH.