COLLEGES have received comprehensive new guidelines amid fears that they may be failing to get the best deals when spending close to Pounds 1 billion worth of taxpayers' money on goods and services every year.
The Further Education Funding Council has issued a procurement good practice guide to ensure that colleges achieve the best possible value for money from suppliers.
FEFC spokeswoman Patricia Stubbs said: "Colleges need to take a more strategic approach. Procurement needs to be managed better and that is what the good practice guide is there to do."
The 102-page guide, produced in conjunction with the National Audit Office, is designed to help colleges review their performance against generally accepted benchmarks in the public and private sectors.
Although there is no evidence that colleges are wasting public money and the guidelines are not mandatory, institutions are reminded that because they use tax-payers' cash they must be seen to achieve value for money.