Guidance

Crown Commercial Service customer update: January 2017

Published 13 January 2017

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

1. Overview

Happy New Year from everyone at the Crown Commercial Service (CCS).

Please read our latest customer update, which provides government and public sector buyers with the latest information about developments in procurement policy, the range of CCS agreements available, new commercial agreements being developed, training opportunities and events.

Please note a slight change to when we will be publishing the monthly customer update. Going forward it will be sent out at the beginning of each month, rather than the end.

2. New brochures

2.1 G-Cloud

Our G-Cloud frameworks allow public sector and government buyers to buy cloud services covering infrastructure, platform, software and specialist cloud services. View our G-Cloud brochure.

View our whole suite of brochures.

3. Did you know car tax is changing?

On 1 April new Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) regulations - commonly known as car tax - are coming into force and will impact organisations with cars in their fleet. So what is changing? Just like the current system, new cars will be divided into 13 bands based on their carbon emissions. This determines how much tax you pay in the first year of ownership. The amount paid each year after that will depend on the type of fuel the car uses. To find out more, take a look at our car tax changes fact sheet.

4. New case studies

4.1 Welsh tech company benefit from the Government being open for business

James Smith and Steve Thair started their tech company DevOpsGuys just 3 years ago. Now they employ over 40 people.

Winning a government contract when they were just starting out fueled the rapid growth of their business. James Smith said: “When you have government in your portfolio you attract more business; it’s an instantly recognised, trusted brand. It gives potential customers the confidence to do business with you. We’ve doubled our turnover every year and we’re on track to do the same again this year.”

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 on our Open for Business website.

4.2 Car share scheme helps council save over £500,000

Our fleet team helps organisations across the public sector save millions of pounds on their vehicle hire each year. Check out how we recently helped one council achieve big savings by introducing a new car share scheme via our Vehicle Hire (RM1062) agreement..

With over 1,200 employees who were using their cars for business purposes, the council was looking to reduce associated costs and the amount of cars on site to deal with growing parking issues.

Over the course of the pilot scheme, not only did the council reduce car travel costs by over £500,000, it also reduced carbon emissions by 36% and staff travelling to work by public transport increased by 26%. Read the full case study.

View our complete case study collection.

5. Payment services

Whether you’re looking to improve your processes for collecting payments, paying invoices or even buying fuel, our payment services agreements can help you make significant savings and reduce time consuming admin work. What’s more, it needn’t be a lengthy process. We can get you up and running in a matter of weeks. If receiving too many invoices is your issue, our ePurchasing Card Solution (RM1095) has helped customers reduce the number of invoices they receive by as much as 45%, while saving between £28-45 per card on annual card fees.

If you’d like to take payments but aren’t sure where to start, we can help you get set up to receive payments online, in person or over the phone with our Merchant Acquiring Services, Equipment and Payment Gateway Services agreement (RM3702). Our solutions allow you to take payments from businesses and citizens quickly and securely, with a variety of savings such as competitive rates to help reduce the cost of merchant acquiring and payment gateway fees and reduced terminal hire fees.

Are you looking for a more efficient and cheaper way to buy fuel? Take a look at our Fuel Card agreement (RM1027). Reduced fuel card fees and charges have helped save over £1.3 million for UK police forces and £900,000 for the UK ambulance service. To find out more, read our payment services brochure or email financial.services@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

6. Join our next fleet eAuction and save up to 40%

Are you looking to buy new vehicles for your fleet soon? Purchasing new vehicles can be a time consuming and costly exercise but our eAuction service simplifies the process and can help you save up to 40% on manufacturer’s retail price (MRP).

There’s not long left to sign up to our next fleet eAuction, which takes place in February. The deadline for getting involved is 18 January, so sign up now and start saving.

To find out more about the advantages of eAuctions you can read our brochure, and to express your interest in taking part email fleet@crowncommercial.gov.uk by 18 January.

7. Aggregation: opportunities to get involved

Our aggregation and design team provides a service for customers with common purchasing needs for a wide range of goods and services ranging from vehicle hire to technology-related products and services.

7.1 How it works

We manage the process from start to finish and offer this service completely free of charge, enabling you to release your own local resources.

We collate your requirements and carry out an aggregated national further competition in order to achieve value for money for you and the other customers taking part by leveraging our bulk buying power. If you would like to join a current opportunity or wish to discuss the great benefits in more detail please email aggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk

7.2 Current aggregation opportunities

Vehicle telematics

We’re planning a national aggregated further competition for vehicle telematics, which support the whole life cost management of vehicles by providing live, operational data to help you monitor things like fuel consumption, vehicle tracking and driver behaviour.

The further competition will include goods and services within the scope of the Vehicle Telematics (RM3754) agreement.

If you would like to register your interest in participating, or if you have any questions please email aggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk quoting NFC57 in the email subject line.

Online webinars will be held to share further information on the process and the deadline for submitting your requirements is 23 February.

Find more current aggregation opportunities.

7.3 Future opportunities

If there is something you are looking to buy, and you would like us to explore the potential to help you achieve savings by bringing your requirement together with other customers, please let us know.

Aggregation is suitable for most common goods and services, and we can use any CCS multi-supplier framework where further competitions can be run.

Please get in touch to discuss your opportunities by emailing aggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk

8. Choose a water supplier for your business

From 3 April over 1.2 million eligible non-household customers in England will be able to choose their water supplier.

We are collaborating 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 prepare to choose your supplier of water, wastewater and ancillary services.

9. Get involved

9.1 Management Consultancy: evaluators needed

We’re looking for people to help us evaluate the supplier bids for the new Management Consultancy framework. Training will be provided so if you’re interested in getting involved and would like to find out more please call 0151 672 2164 or email advisory.services@crowncommercial.gov.uk

9.2 Market research

The current Market Research agreement, which is managed by UK SBS, is due to expire on 7 April 2018. UK SBS is creating a customer stakeholder group to look at the potential requirements for a replacement framework. If you’re interested in getting involved please email research@uksbs.co.uk marked for the attention of Victoria Clewer in your email subject line.

10. Procurement policy

10.1 Procuring steel in major projects

Updated guidance on how to create a level playing field for UK steel producers through public procurement has recently been issued. Read this practical guide on how you can design your major projects involving steel to ensure best value for money by recognising relevant wider social and environmental benefits.

10.2 Government buyers - avoid using onerous practices in procurement and contracting

Some suppliers are still reporting procurements that are being conducted in ways that result in disproportionate or inappropriate risk transfer between buyers and suppliers.

Unnecessarily onerous requirements are not best practice and, while not commonplace, can stifle innovation and lead to increased costs for both parties. For details of how you can avoid using such practices in procurement and contracting activity, please read this procurement policy note.

If you are looking for further 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

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. Crown representatives

The list of Crown representatives and the strategic suppliers they work with has recently been updated. View the latest list.

13. CCS events

13.1 Selling to the public sector via G-Cloud

The next supplier webinar will be on 19 January at 12pm.

Robert MacLeod MCIPS, Category Lead for G-Cloud at Crown Commercial Service, will outline how to get your business on the digital framework, secure work with buyers, and manage public sector contracts. This webinar is suited to businesses selling digital services and technology solutions.

Click here to register.

14. Conferences and exhibitions

14.1 BETT

We’re joining London Grid at the BETT show, which is taking place 25 to 28 January at Excel, London. Educators and decision makers can visit us on stand D260. Delegates can register to attend the event for free.

14.2 Procurex North

Our CEO Malcolm Harrison will join Andy Burnham, MP for Leigh in the keynote arena at Procurex North, which is taking place 21 March at Manchester Central. Register to attend the event for free.

15. New agreements

15.1 Multifunctional Devices, Managed Print and Content Services and Records and Information Management

Developed in collaboration with YPO and Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) to create the biggest agreement of its type, the new Multifunctional Devices, Managed Print and Content Services and Records and Information Management (RM3781) agreement covers a wide range of services to help you digitise print, copying, scanning and storage. From buying multifunctional devices and services to help you manage your print strategy, storage and scanning, to services to help you appraise, select, and sensitivity review your records, and audit and consultancy to help you optimise your print and records management all lots are now live. Email documentstorageanddevices@crowncommercial.gov.uk for further information or visit the website.

15.2 Campaign Solutions

Campaign Solutions (RM3774) is an innovative new marketing and communications framework covering all the services you will need for end-to-end campaigns. It is a single lot agreement that includes a broad range of agencies with different specialisms to help you tap into the very best expertise and talent in the communications industry. The new approach is more flexible than before and allows you to work collaboratively with your agency to encourage innovative solutions to your campaign. All agencies hired through this framework will be able to design, plan and execute your entire campaign. It will be complemented by Communication Services (RM37960 which is due to award shortly.

15.3 Managed Print and Digital Solutions

Managed Print and Digital Solutions (RM3785) has recently awarded and will be live shortly. It will give you access to a full range of print and digital solutions including print and paper products, digital asset management, pre-production services, operational print, security print, large format and wide print, finishing services, direct mail, database management, storage, fulfilment and distribution, and much more. Benefits will include savings through a transparent price model, and access to a complete managed print and digital solution.

16. New contract notices

The following contract notices have recently been published:

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

17. Agreements expiring shortly

18. Agreement extensions

19. Recently expired agreements

20. CCS on social media

We share regular news and updates throughout the month on Twitter and LinkedIn so if you are not already following us why not take a minute to do so now? You can follow us on Twitter and connect with us on LinkedIn.

21. 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.

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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.

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