Guidance

Crown Commercial Service customer update: July 2017

Published 3 July 2017

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1. Take part in aggregated further competitions

When buying common goods and services, bringing together customers’ needs provides several advantages, including big savings and a simpler tender process.

Some recent examples of our aggregation success can be found in our case study collection.

Find out more about our latest aggregation opportunities.

1.1 Last call for mobile voice and data services aggregation

This is your last chance to register for the next mobile voice and data services aggregation which could see you save over 50% on the provision of mobile services against existing customer prices.

Open to central government and wider public sector, this project will put in place a mobile voice and data services contract which offers you a high level of flexibility by:

  • establishing a zero line rental model for basic connections, so you do not incur costs for lines not used (zero usage)
  • structuring services as “bolt-ons” which can be added to the basic connection, enabling you to build packages to suit your specific requirements; removing the restrictions of a “one size fits all” approach

The anticipated timescales for the project are outlined below, however, they may be subject to change:

  • July 2017: finalising customer requirements
  • September/October 2017: conducting the competition, award to winning bidder and customers enter into contract

Register your interest in joining the procurement by emailing aggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk quoting NFC75.

The deadline for expressing an interest is 14 July 2017.

1.2 Come together to make savings on your water services

Get the best deal on your water services by joining together with other organisations to buy.

Our Water, Wastewater and Ancillary Services (RM3790) framework is the largest public sector water framework in the UK.

The framework gives you access to suppliers for your water supply and waste water services (sewerage), plus additional services to help you make water efficiency savings.

We would now like to invite you to make even bigger savings on your water requirements by collaborating with other organisations to purchase through our national aggregated further competition (NFC67).

Next steps

Register your interest by joining one of our introductory webinars:

If you are unable to attend any webinars but still wish to register an interest, please get in touch and mention “water aggregation” in the comments box.

1.3 Give us your feedback on aggregation

We are holding 6 workshops around the country to get input from public sector buyers on the CCS aggregation process within technology. These events are aimed at both existing and new buyers and will provide a chance to contribute your thoughts on our aggregation processes and how we can develop them further, to best meet your organisation’s technology needs.

The workshops will last 2 hours and cover:

  • overview of the aggregation service and processes
  • deepdive on how the aggregation service can be developed and improved to meet your organisation’s requirements including: specifications, lead-times, frequency, terms & conditions, pricing, communication methods, templates and documentation etc.
  • review aggregation activity timeline and develop further competition pipeline

If you would like to take part, please register below:

2. Public Sector Show presentations

This year’s Public Sector Show was another huge success and gave us the chance to meet with hundreds of organisations and help them with their procurement challenges. Our commercial experts also delivered a series of presentations throughout the day:

  • Malcolm Harrison, CEO: delivering commercial benefits through better procurement
  • Nick Caton, Wider Public Sector Commercial Director: overview of CCS and how we can help organisations from across the public sector
  • Matt Denham, Strategic Programmes Director: how the Crown Marketplace programme is transforming public procurement
  • Sam Ulyatt, Commercial Director, Buildings: creating robust market-driven category strategies
  • David Gigg and Francesca Livesey, Policy Implementation team: using social value criteria to run and evaluate your procurement
  • Lisa Stubbs, Senior Lead for Partnerships: how to go about choosing a sourcing route to meet your specific buying needs

View all the slides from these sessions.

3. Technology webinars

4. Latest case studies

4.1 NDA Estate to save over £1 million on office supplies

Our framework for office supplies is set to help the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Estate save over £1 million.

The NDA Estate was looking for a quick route to market to purchase stationery and office supplies. In addition, it required a solution that would allow for collaboration to maximise volume leverage under our Office Supplies for the Wider Public Sector (RM3703) framework.

Following the competition, the contract will now provide the NDA Estate with a single source of supply for all office supplies with an identified core list of items. The core list will, on average, see a reduction of circa 52%, whilst non-core items, which represent approximately 10% of the spend, will see a reduction of up to 50% from the recommended retail price.

Read the full case study.

View all our latest case studies.

5. Dynamic Purchasing System for vehicle conversion

We’re developing a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to replace the Vehicle Conversions framework and expect the new system to be available in early September 2017. Read on to find out more about what a DPS is and why it could deliver benefits for your organisation…

A DPS is a public sector sourcing tool that is similar to a framework, but new suppliers can join at any time.

5.1 The benefits

  • you can decide your own specification and evaluation criteria
  • a quicker, simpler buying process
  • increased scope of services
  • helps you buy locally and support SMEs
  • a dynamic supply base to boost effective competition
  • access to the wider vehicle conversions supply chain, including specialist providers and sub-contractors

5.2 How does a DPS work?

The initial set-up stage, which is done by CCS, means all suppliers who meet the selection criteria are added to the system. Individual contracts can then be awarded by inviting all relevant suppliers to bid for your specific contract.

A DPS provides a wholly electronic way of sourcing, but suppliers do not need any special IT equipment or software, so there isn’t any unnecessary upfront activity or investment for the supplier.

The minimum timescale for return of tenders is 10 days. You can establish standalone contracts, or develop catalogues for future purchases, from your competition. You don’t need to allow a standstill period upon award, although there may be benefits of doing so in some instances.

6. Brochures

6.1 Project Management and Full Design Team Services

Our new Project Management and Full Design Team Services framework (RM3741) helps the public sector achieve value for the nation in construction services. Services available include project management, architectural, engineering and cost services, supported by bespoke technical advice linked to construction project delivery. Environmental advisory services are also available.

View the full brochure to find out more.

6.2 Utilities and Fuels

Here at CCS we really can claim to power the UK public sector. Our collective scale and buying power means we are the biggest buyer of gas and electricity in the UK outside of the big six energy companies. We also recently brought to market the largest public sector water framework in the UK. All of this means we can help our customers get the best possible deal across a wide range of products, including: electricity, gas and water.

View the full brochure to find out more

6.3 Traffic Management Technology 2

The Traffic Management Technology 2 framework gives you access to a wide range of traffic management technology products, solutions and professional services, including, sustainable transport infrastructure, speed enforcement, traffic signals and Intelligent Transport Systems.

View the full brochure to find out more.

View our full suite of brochures.

7. New frameworks

  • Contact Centres (RM3815) is now live giving you access to phone, email and web-based communication solutions that enable the public to interact with government and public sector services. A consultancy option is also available to help you explore your requirements and develop an implementation strategy.

  • Rail Legal Services (RM3756) is now live. Designed to meet the needs of the Department for Transport’s rail division, it provides access to rail related legal services, in particular rail franchising. Access is also available to other organisations that require rail legal advice.

  • Demand Side Response Services (RM3972) has also recently awarded and will go live shortly.

8. New contract notices

We have recently published an OJEU notice for Apprenticeship Training and Related Services (RM3823)

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

9. Frameworks expiring shortly

10. Framework extensions

11. Recently expired frameworks

12.1 Mystery Shopper 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.

12.2 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

12.3 Procurement 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:

13. 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.

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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