Crown Commercial Service customer update: February 2015
Published 26 February 2015
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1. Procurement reform
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 have come into force meaning that:
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everyone in the supply chain must comply with 30 day payment terms, including suppliers and sub-contractors
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public bodies must publish an annual late payment report, making their accountability more transparent
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the bidding process is simpler across the wider public sector – complex forms, such as Pre-Qualification Questionnaires, are now abolished for low value contracts
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the procurement process for public sector contracts will be quicker
Read more about the reforms here:
2. Contracts Finder
A refreshed Contracts Finder website has been launched featuring a better search function, including the facility to search by location.
Contracts Finder covers current and future public sector contracts above £10,000 in central government and above £25,000 in the wider public sector.
Read guidance on the transparency requirements for publishing on Contracts Finder
3. Latest Mystery Shopper results
The Mystery Shopper scheme allows suppliers to report tenders they did not understand or instances of what they believe to be poor procurement practice. The government uses this information to help challenge procurers to be more transparent and open. The scheme publishes the results of investigations every 2 weeks. View the latest results to see how the scheme is helping to improve procurement practices.
4. Contract and commercial management training
The International Association for Contract and Commercial Management’s Commercial and Contract Certification Programme has been added to the list of approved learning offerings to support the development of commercial skills and capability across government.
The programme, covering topics such as managing markets, negotiating and agreeing contracts, and contract management, is now available for you to access via the Civil Service Learning Portal and the CCS Learning Hub
5. Events
5.1 Procurex South Live
We are partnering this free to attend event on 10 March at London Olympia. Bill Crothers, Government Chief Commercial Officer will be speaking on putting commercial thinking into the DNA of the public sector and we will be exhibiting in the CCS Pavilion.
5.2 Public Sector ICT Summit
We are supporting this free to attend event on 17 March at Etc.venues Paddington, London. Sarah Hurrell, Commercial Director, Technology, will be speaking on ICT procurement and we will also be exhibiting.
5.3 Procurex Wales
We will be exhibiting at this free to attend event on 18 March at City Hall, Cardiff.
6. Procurement news
6.1 Project Management and Full Design Team Services
Customer engagement is integral to ensuring this new agreement reflects the diversity of specialist consultancy needs for public sector construction projects and capital programmes. You can help to shape the agreement by supporting the development of the scope, specification and tender documents, assisting with evaluation and providing advice and feedback. If you are interested in supporting this procurement email ProjectManagement@crowncommercial.gov.uk or visit the project web page
6.2 Insurance Services
We are holding a series of customer events in March to provide customers with the opportunity to find out more about the Insurance Services re-procurement project. If you are interested in supporting the development of this procurement email insurance@crowncommercial.gov.uk or visit the project web page to register for an event.
6.3 Health Physics Services
A procurement to provide external radiological monitoring resources is being developed by Magnox Ltd. Customers interested in joining the procurement should contact steve.x.watson@magnoxsites.com before the contract notice is issued in May 2015. It is anticipated that the services will be available late 2016/early 2017; however, timescales are subject to change depending on the level of interest.
7. Technology aggregation opportunities
The following upcoming opportunities are available for customers to take part in:
- mobile voice and data services (the last aggregated further competition achieved savings in excess of £5.4 million for customers, an average 66% saving compared to the baseline)
- technology hardware and software for hardware or commercial off the shelf (COTS) software requirements
- servers and storage area networks for immediate requirements ready to compete in early March 2015
For more information on taking part in any of these aggregated technology opportunities please email TechnologyAggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk
8. New agreements
The latest G-Cloud agreement is now live:
Postal Services (RM1063) and Natural Gas and Additional Services (RM1076) have also recently awarded and will go live shortly.
As well as being able to view full details of all live agreements in the find an agreement directory you can also download a summary list of all the available CCS agreements. This list is updated monthly so you will always have access to the latest information.
9. Expired agreements
9.1 Commodity IT Hardware and Software (RM721)
This agreement expired on 31 January 2015. Technology Products (RM1054) should now be used for all new requirements.
9.2 G-Cloud 4 (RM1557iv)
This agreement expired on 31 January 2015. G-Cloud 5 (RM1557v) and G-Cloud 6 are both now live.
9.3 IT Hardware and Solutions (RM1692)
This agreement expired on 31 January 2015. Technology Products (RM1054) should now be used for all new requirements.
9.4 Office Supplies (RM781)
This agreement expired on 7 January 2015. It is being replaced by Office Supplies for the Wider Public Sector (RM3703) which is due to award shortly.
10. Agreements expiring shortly
10.1 Vehicle Lease (RM858)
This agreement is due to expire on 15 May 2015. It will be replaced by a new agreement Vehicle Lease and Fleet Management which is expected to award in May 2015.
10.2 G-Cloud 5 (RM1557v)
This agreement is due to expire on 22 May 2015. We are considering an extension to ensure continuity of service.
10.3 Digital Services (RM1043)
This agreement is due to expire on 31 March 2015. We are considering an extension to ensure continuity of service during the development of Digital Services 2 (RM1043ii) which is due to award in May 2015.
10.4 Environmental and Sustainability Advice Support and Delivery Services (RM830)
This agreement is due to expire on 30 April 2015 and we are currently considering an extension to ensure continuity of service.
10.5 Laundry and Linen Services (RM849)
This agreement will expire on 24 May 2015. Customers with current arrangements in place which are due to expire between May and July 2015 are encouraged to extend their contracts to ensure continuity of service during the development of a replacement agreement.
10.6 Press Cuttings (RM1726)
This agreement is due to expire on 30 March 2015. It is being replaced by Media Monitoring and Evaluation and Related Services (RM3708) which is due to award in May 2015. Customers with call-off contracts in place may wish to consider a contract extension to ensure continuity of service if their contract is due to expire before May 2015.
10.7 Telephony Services (RM1035)
This agreement is due to expire on 22 April 2015. It is being replaced by Network Services (RM1045)
11. Agreement extensions
11.1 Consultancy ONE (RM1502)
All lots of this agreement have been extended until 16 May 2016.
11.2 Creative Solutions, Execution and Related Services (RM988)
This agreement has been extended until 30 April 2016.
11.3 Face to Face Interpreting Services (RM738)
This agreement has been extended until 16 July 2015 to ensure continuity of service for customers during the development of Language Services
11.4 Government Office Supplies Contract (RM917)
This agreement has been extended until 31 July 2015 to ensure continuity of service during the development of the replacement agreement, Crown Office Solutions
11.5 IT Managed Services (RM717)
This agreement has been extended until 5 August 2015 to provide continuity of service during the development of Technology Services (RM1058)
11.6 Legal Services (RM919)
This agreement has been extended until 31 January 2016.
11.7 PSN Connectivity (RM860)
This agreement has been extended to 24 April 2016, providing continuity of service during the development and launch of Network Services (RM1045). The extension incorporates an additional requirement for customers to seek approval before they proceed with their further competition. Details of this new process can be found here
11.8 PSN Services (RM1498)
This agreement has been extended to 26 June 2016, providing continuity of service during the development and launch of Network Services (RM1045). The extension incorporates an additional requirement for customers to seek approval before they proceed with their further competition. Details of this new process can be found here
12. Quick links
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If you need further information about anything in this update please do not hesitate to contact our helpdesk on 0345 410 2222 or email info@crowncommercial.gov.uk
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