What we buy and our purchasing policy
Each year the RNLI invests in the huge variety of goods and services required to run our lifeboat and lifeguard service, and to support those operations, such as:
- Marine engineering
- Corporate clothing
- IT
- Facilities
- Design
- Print
If you believe your product or service could benefit the work that we do and you would like to tell us about it, please refer to 'How to become an RNLI supplier'.
The RNLI's purchasing policy has been written to formalise our guidelines on purchasing goods and services.
The RNLI aims to obtain best overall value for money by procuring products and services efficiently, ensuring quality standards are consistently delivered, and that our charitable and business needs are met.
Our purchasing decisions aim to:
- Positively enhance the RNLI's professionalism and reputation
- Provide cost effective 'through-life' expenditure
- Be perceived, by the public and volunteers, to be an efficient use of funds
Our purchasing decisions will not at any time:
- Compromise RNLI vision and values
- Negatively affect the RNLI's reputation
- Incur greater costs, in money, time or labour resource than is necessary
The RNLI encourages the negotiation of long term, partnership-style, commercial contracts, in order to optimise competition and cooperation.
