Guidance

Crown Commercial Service customer update: April 2017

Published 4 April 2017

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crown-commercial-service-customer-update-april-2017/crown-commercial-service-customer-update-april-2017

1. Choose a water supplier for your business

For the first time, over 1.2 million ‘eligible’ non-household customers in England can choose their water supplier (from 3 April).

Public sector organisations will be able to choose which company supplies their water and associated services like automated meter reading, leak detection and customer service.

We have collaborated with YPO, Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO), West Mercia Energy, The Energy Consortium and the Ministry of Defence to bring to market the largest public sector water framework agreement in the UK.

Read our guidance to see how you can choose your supplier of water, wastewater and ancillary services.

1.1 Start saving now

Want to start saving money on your organisation’s water bills right away? Find out about our e-auction, which we will be carrying out on behalf of interested customers in May 2017, helping you to to save time and money in choosing your new supplier.

1.2 Sign up to our water webinar to find out more

Want to find out more? Sign up to our webinar: Water and Wastewater Framework - Accessing the Water Retail Market on 6 April at 2pm.

2. New office supplies catalogue launched

A second online catalogue has now been added to our Crown Marketplace programme’s purchasing platform. Office Supplies has joined Technology Products 2 as part of the programme’s test phase, which aims to offer a simplified online buying experience for the wider public sector.

Register to purchase from the platform.

We also welcome feedback from customers about the platform, if you have anything you’d like to share please email CMpFeedback@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

3. Events

3.1 CCS Showcase at Procurex South

Following on from the huge success of our first ever CCS Showcase in March we will be hosting a second event at Procurex South at Olympia London on 20 April. The event will once again provide visitors with the chance to take part in a range of free educational workshops and meet with our commercial specialists at the CCS advice bar.

Training zone

Whether you’re new to procurement and/or the public sector, or simply want to refresh your knowledge and share ideas, we’ve got a great range of educational sessions for you to choose from. Presented by our experienced commercial specialists, they have been designed to help you work your way through the many complexities of public sector procurement and achieve great value for your organisation. Choose from:

  • Procurement 101
  • How to write and manage a category strategy
  • How to choose a sourcing route
  • Engaging your stakeholders….before, during and after your procurement
  • How to use social value criteria in your procurement activity

Book your place

CCS advice bar

Join us in the CCS advice bar to find out more about the range of great value commercial deals we have available to help you achieve significant savings.

You can find out more about how we are working in partnership with other public sector buying organisations to help ensure we get the best value for all, and hear about the innovative solutions we are developing to make it easier for you to buy from us.

If you have got a specific procurement challenge we can help you with why not book an appointment with one of our commercial specialists and get one to one advice and guidance? You will be able to make an appointment once you have registered to attend the event.

We’d also love to hear your thoughts, ideas and comments to ensure we are providing the best possible solutions to your needs so come to our feedback wall and tell us how we can help you.

Procurex Ireland

We will also be exhibiting at Procurex Ireland at RDS Exhibition Centre in Dublin on 25 April. If you’re planning to visit you’ll find our devolved customer team at stand 57. We’d love to have the chance to talk with you over the course of the day to explore how we can best support you, so we hope to see you there.

Register to attend any of the Procurex Live events for free.

3.2 NCVO annual conference

We will be showing how CCS can help charities at the NCVO annual conference, which is taking place on 20 April at The Brewery, London, EC1.

Visitors to our stand (number 11) will have the opportunity to hear about our future eAuction programme, see our new electronic catalogue and speak to us about the services we offer the charity sector.

Book your place today

Charities and third sector organisations, such as housing associations, can all use our commercial solutions free of charge so why not find out more about how we can help you?

3.3 Insurance Services insight events

We are holding a series of insight events for customers interested in using the Insurance Services (RM3731) framework.

Held in conjunction with YPO, ESPO and NEPO, the sessions will provide you with guidance and support on making decisions around insurance procurement. The events are designed to give you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and share experiences with different public sector organisations.

These sessions will cover a range of topical issues and help you to get the most from the framework.

Please register for your preferred date using the links below:

3.4 Civil Service Live 2017

We will be attending Civil Service Live 2017 events throughout June and July, supporting a series of workshops on commercial as a profession. The events will enable civil servants and organisations to share best practice and innovation across government:

  • Thursday 8 June, EICC, Edinburgh
  • Thursday 15 June, Manchester Central, Manchester
  • Tuesday 20 June, The Sage, Gateshead
  • Thursday 29 June, City Hall, Cardiff
  • Thursday 6 July, NEC, Birmingham
  • Tuesday and Wednesday 11 and 12 July, QEII Centre, London

For more information about the events and different sponsorship, speaking or exhibition opportunities please email customer.service@dodsgroup.com or call 020 7593 5500.

3.5 Public Sector Show 2017

We’re delighted to be supporting the Public Sector Show once again in 2017. The event gives us the chance to meet with a huge number of customers - both existing and potential new ones - in just one day.

We’d love to have the chance to meet with you at the show - whether that is at one of our seminar sessions, or at our stand where you can chat with our senior commercial experts who will be on hand throughout the day to offer one ­to ­one practical procurement advice and answer any questions you may have.

In the main conference theatre Malcolm Harrison, our chief executive, will be speaking about how we can help you deliver savings through better procurement, and we will also be discussing how we are helping make government business more accessible to SMEs.

In our dedicated open theatre we will be hosting a variety of sessions over the course of the day, including:

  • an introduction to CCS
  • simplifying the market for public sector buyers
  • disruptive technology: new digital platforms to transform public procurement
  • keeping you updated on public procurement policy and regulations

We’re here to help you and look forward to seeing you at the show.

Book your free place today

4. Technology webinars

4.1 Network Services

Register for our next Network Services webinar on 19 April to find out more about our framework that gives you access to networks and telecommunication services, including PSN compliant services and mobile.

4.2 G-Cloud

Register for our next G-Cloud webinar on 12 April to find out more about our frameworks that offer an easy route to sourcing cloud-based services.

5. Wanted: feedback for our technology frameworks

We are asking customers of our technology frameworks to help us improve the support that we offer through our website.

If you have used one of our technology frameworks in the past and you would like to tell us how we can better support you, then please join one of our customer groups to give us your feedback. There are 4 sessions:

  • 6 April, 1pm-3pm, Concept House, Newport
  • 7 April, 1pm-3pm, The Capital Building, Liverpool
  • 25 April, 10am-12pm, 1 Horse Guards Road, London
  • 27 April, 10am-12pm, Rosebery Court, Norwich

If you would like to get involved please email networkservices@crowncommercial.gov.uk to reserve your place.

6. Workshop: Software Solutions framework

We are asking our customers for feedback to help us develop the structure and scope of our new Software Solutions framework (RM3821). This may replace the existing Corporate Software Solutions (RM1042) and Local Authority Software Applications (RM1059) frameworks.

The workshop will take place at 10 St Bride Street, London on 27 April at 2pm.

Book your place.

7. Wanted: evaluators for Management Consultancy framework

We’re looking for people to help evaluate the supplier bids for our new Management Consultancy framework. If you would like to get involved please call 0151 672 2164 or email advisory.services@crowncommercial.gov.uk

We need independent evaluators to ensure we have the most capable suppliers, which offer best value for money and meet your needs. It’s a great learning and development opportunity, and will look great on your CV as you will be able to say you have been part of developing the largest consultancy framework in the UK!

What’s involved?

You’ll be given 1 question to evaluate. How long it will take to evaluate the question will depend on how you choose to plan your time. You can spend as little as an hour a day or up to a full day at a time, which means it will take somewhere between 2 to 8 weeks. Training will be provided and will take about 40 minutes.

About the framework

We’re developing a new management consultancy framework to replace ConsultancyONE. The range of services available is being broadened and we want to ensure you have access to specialist and SME businesses. Key features will include:

  • revised day rates and a choice of flexible pricing models (fixed, time and materials or risk and reward), as part of the further competition process, to help you achieve better value for money
  • new lots for education, healthcare/community and infrastructure
  • no upper or lower spend limits
  • all suppliers will be accredited to cyber essentials
  • simple access as you will be to direct award, as well as run a further competition

The framework will be awarded in 2 phases:

  • phase one is expected to be available from July and will include business consultancy, finance and audit
  • phase two is planned for September and will include HR, healthcare/community, education, infrastructure and ICT and digital services

8. Get involved: shape our new way to buy energy

Following customer feedback, we’re developing a new way to buy energy.

Gov-Switch follows the concept of an energy price comparison website much like those you may use at home, and will enable you to compare and switch energy tariffs. You will also be certain that the price you see will be the price you pay.

The idea is to ensure that you choose the tariff that meets your needs, whether that is the cheapest price, or a green energy or local supplier.

We want you to shape what Gov-Switch looks like for our customers. You can help us by answering a few simple questions on our customer survey. Please complete this by 20 April.

Find out more about Gov-Switch or email us at gov-switch@crowncommercial.gov.uk

9. Latest case studies

9.1 Government is Open for Business: Small British communications business increases staff by 10%

Small British communications agency, Kindred, has increased its staff by 10% per year after winning a government contract.

Anastasia Scott, managing partner, Kindred, said: “The procurement process was surprisingly easy and incredibly fair. It is understandable that at first SMEs may be daunted by working with such a large organisation. However, the process itself and the CCS framework is very straightforward.

See how becoming a government supplier is a great way to make a difference to small and medium-sized enterprises, read the full case study.

Find out more about how we are making it easier for small businesses to supply to government and the public sector on our Open for Business website.

9.2 CCS helps 11 NHS trusts renew video conferencing services

We have helped 11 NHS trusts renew their video conferencing services, with an estimated saving of £832,000 through an aggregated procurement.

The aggregated procurement delivered a projected saving of 44%, amounting to £832,000 over 3 years, when compared with the average price of the competition.

To find out more, read the full case study.

10. Crown Representatives and strategic supplier update

Find out the latest information about our Crown Representatives and the strategic suppliers they work with. The risk management policy relating to strategic suppliers is also provided.

11. Mystery Shopper

Our Mystery Shopper scheme allows suppliers to report public sector tenders they did not understand or instances of what they believe to be poor procurement practice.

11.1 Mystery Shopper needs your feedback

Whether you’re a buyer or supplier we would like to hear from you - we need your feedback to help improve our Mystery Shopper service.

11.2 Latest results

You can view the latest Mystery Shopper results to see how the scheme is helping to improve procurement practices across the public sector and support our ambition to make doing business with government as easy as possible for small businesses.

12. New agreements

12.1 Cyber Security Services framework

Our new Cyber Security Services 2 (RM3764ii) framework is now live to help you buy certified cyber security consultancy and services.

Cyber Security Services 2 is the second joint venture with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK government’s National Technical Authority for Information Assurance.

71% of the 121 suppliers signed up to provide services through the framework are SMEs.

12.2 Courier Services

Developed in collaboration with YPO, our new Courier Services (RM3798) framework is now live, providing you with access to a range of common courier services at competitive prices, including the collection and delivery of documents, secure collection, storage and delivery of examination papers and security screening of internal mail.

Over 50% of the suppliers are SMEs and all suppliers will use their expertise to help you improve efficiency and achieve best value. Improved efficiency and savings can be achieved through rationalisation and standardisation of services, and economies of scale can be maximised as the more customers that use a route the bigger the savings for all - this is known as ‘optimisation of networks’.

General Legal Advice Services (RM3786), the first of 4 legal panels being developed, is now live. Designed for the exclusive use of central government customers, it is a full service agreement covering multiple specialisms. A full list of the mandatory and optional specialisms available can be found on the agreement web page. The only exclusions relate to highly complex financial transactions and specialist rail legal services, which will be covered by separate panel agreements that are currently being developed.

A self-service legal panel for wider public sector customers will also be available later this year. In the meantime, wider public sector customers can use lot 8 (major or complex projects) of Legal Services (RM919).

12.4 Quality Assurance (QA) and Testing for IT Systems

Our new Quality Assurance (QA) and Testing for IT Systems framework (RM3810) is now live.

Home Office evaluated the technical and qualitative ability of the suppliers, providing our public sector customers with an extra level of assurance.

This framework complements our other digital agreements, meaning when you design and/or build a digital requirement or cloud service integration, you can obtain independent, specialist quality assurance and testing before you go live.

13. New contract notices

We have recently published OJEU notices for the following new procurements:

You can view details of all ongoing or planned procurements on our procurement pipeline.

14. Agreements expiring shortly

15. Agreement extensions

16. Recently expired agreements

The Communications Marketplace closed to new business on 31 March. Customers with tactical niche or lower value marketing and communications requirements should use the new Communication Services (RM3796) framework. Existing contracts with suppliers through the Communications Marketplace are not affected and can continue until the contract end date.

If you have any queries or would like to discuss your marketing and communications requirements, please email commscategoryteam@crowncommercial.gov.uk

17. Sign up for email alerts

You can sign up for immediate, daily or weekly email alerts which will tell you what we have added or updated on the GOV.UK website. It is a great way to stay up to date with the latest news and information from CCS. Sign up for email alerts by providing your email address and selecting the frequency you wish to receive updates.

18.1 Brochures

Find out more about our range of goods and services by viewing our whole suite of brochures

18.2 Procurement policy

If you are looking for public procurement policy guidance please take a look at our public procurement policy page

Looking for a particular procurement policy note? View the collection of all procurement policy notes

18.3 Tools

eSourcing log on

eMarketplace log on

If you use these tools frequently why not save them to your favourites for easy access? Not yet registered? Find out how to register:

If you need further information about anything in this update please do not hesitate to contact us by email info@crowncommercial.gov.uk or call our helpdesk on 0345 410 2222 You can also follow us on Twitter and connect with us on LinkedIn

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