Guidance

Crown Commercial Service customer update: May 2017

Published 4 May 2017

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1. Placing social value at the heart of procurement

We’re supporting public bodies to deliver more social value through their procurement activity, and have published a statement outlining how we will do more to help our customers to achieve additional social benefits.

Sam Rowbury, Director of Policy at CCS said: “We’re making sure that our customers can use our deals to deliver the specific social value benefits they are looking for. “Social value benefits could be anything from creating more apprenticeships for young people, to reducing carbon emissions or promoting equality and diversity.” Read the full story to find out more.

2. Schools are saving more than 40% via new framework for printers

The Department for Education (DfE) is recommending our Multifunctional Devices (RM3781) framework because it makes buying printers easier and is helping to save schools money. The first schools to use the new buying framework have saved more than 40% on previous contract prices. To read more you can view the full article from DfE.

The framework is open to all public sector organisations and charities and covers multifunctional devices, from print equipment and entry level print management software to fully managed print services, as well as content and records information management services. To find out more take a look at the brochure.

3. Events

3.1 Insurance Services insight events

We’re 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:

3.2 Enterprise Software Solutions customer engagement workshops

We’re inviting customers to attend a workshop to help us develop an innovative new agreement, Enterprise Software Solutions (RM3821) which will replace Corporate Software Solutions (RM1042) due to expire in October 2017.

The sessions will help us create a new framework that meets the needs of our customers, enabling them to take advantage of the latest technology, aligned to organisational strategy, priorities, and the current and future government’s technology policies.

Please email the team at ess@crowncommercial.gov.uk to register your place for one of the following workshops:

  • Wakefield, 31 May, 11am-2pm
  • London, 1 June, 9am - 12pm More details can be found here.

3.3 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.

3.4 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 in our open theatre, 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 in our dedicated open theatre we will be hosting a variety of sessions over the course of the day. Topics will include:

  • 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 18 May 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 10 May to find out more about our frameworks that offer an easy route to sourcing cloud-based services.

5. Final call: evaluators for Management Consultancy framework

If you would like to help evaluate the supplier bids for our new Management Consultancy framework this is your last chance to get involved. To take part or find out more 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

6. Book for eSourcing tool training

We are continuing our eSourcing training programme and our next webinar is scheduled on 9 May.

Please note that each session is limited to 20 people and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Book on to the session.

7. Take part in aggregated further competitions

When buying common goods and services, bringing together customers’ needs provides several advantages, including savings and a simpler tender process. Recent examples of our aggregation success can be found in our case study collection

7.1 Are you looking to buy laptops or desktops?

We’re planning another aggregated further competition for laptops and tablets, in collaboration with the Department for Education (DfE), on behalf of the education sector. Technology Hardware for Schools 2 (NFC69) will be run under lot 1 of the Technology Products 2 (RM3733) framework. A pilot competition last year achieved an average saving of 36% for the schools that took part.

Interested? Learn more. To discuss your requirements or express your interest please email aggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk by 19 May with NFC69 in the subject line.

8. Latest case studies

8.1 Making Scotland’s roads safer with Traffic Management Technology

We have helped Transport Scotland to tackle a notorious accident blackspot.

The A9 in Scotland is a route that has previously been described as one of the most dangerous roads in the UK. The highways authority, Transport Scotland, engaged suppliers using the CCS Traffic Management Technology framework to provide speed enforcement systems.

As a result, the route has seen significant reductions in casualties, with the latest figures for the A9 showing a 62% reduction. Read the full case study.

9. Brochures

9.1 New brochure for charities

Charities can use our frameworks free of charge and we’re committed to helping all charities achieve maximum value by leveraging our commercial expertise and national buying power. View our new charities brochure to find out more.

9.2 Crown hosting services

Many public sector organisations are using our Crown Hosting Data Centre co-location services agreement. Migrating their existing data centre provision into a highly secure, broad-ranging, data centre environment that complements their transition journey to cloud. While also delivering significant cost savings, operational efficiency and sustainability. View the brochure to find out more

9.3 Quality Assurance and Testing Services

We have worked collaboratively with the Home Office, to make the Quality Assurance and Testing Services for IT systems framework. 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. View the brochure to find out more

View our full suite of brochures.

10. Prompt payment data

Check out the latest information on our prompt payment of invoices.

11. 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.

12. Latest 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. ##New agreements

12.1 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. Find out more.

12.2 Water, Wastewater and Ancillary Services

Our new Water, Wastewater and Ancillary Services (RM3790) is now live.

In collaboration with YPO, The Energy Consortium, Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO), West Mercia Energy, and the Ministry of Defence. We have brought to market the largest public sector framework in the UK for water supply, wastewater and ancillary services. From 01 April 2017 onwards ‘eligible’ non-household customers will be able to choose their supplier of water, wastewater and ancillary services. Find out more

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. Contract variations

  • Contingent LabourONE (RM960) will continue until 18 June 2018 as a contract variation to ensure continuity of service during the development of the new Public Sector Resourcing solution.

17. Recently expired agreements

  • The Communications Marketplace is now closed to new business. 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 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

18. 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.

19.1 Brochures

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

19.2 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

19.3 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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