Guidance

Crown Commercial Service customer update: October 2019

Published 7 October 2019

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crown-commercial-service-customer-update-october-2019/crown-commercial-service-customer-update-october-2019

1. Find your travel partner

Whatever your travel or vehicle hire needs, we can help save you time and money through our Public Sector Travel and Venue Solutions (PSTVS) agreement.

It gives you exclusive access to deals and the lowest booking fees on both UK and international business travel from a choice of suppliers. If your travel agreement is coming to an end soon you can find out more here.

2. Contact centre savings

The Money Advice Service (MAS) has seen real savings after using CCS’s Contact Centre Service framework. Its supplier HGS helped reduce call handling times and hourly costs, so MAS could invest in financial tools and calculators which further help customers. Read the case study here.

3. Powerful energy solutions

Are you looking to reduce your energy costs? We have a new and improved energy and ancillary services framework. Read our article to find out how we can give you advice on reducing your energy consumption while saving you time and money.

4. Direct award your tech services

Customers looking to buy technology services, such as help desk or network support services, can now buy them more quickly and flexibly through direct award. Read our latest Technology Services 2 article to learn more and to get involved.

5. Media monitoring opportunity

We’re in the process of reviewing the CCS framework agreement for Media Monitoring & Evaluation and related services. What would you like to see in it? Why not tell us by completing our short survey today.

6. Digitising public service

Our new Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4 framework is now live. Find out how it helps public sector organisations source suppliers which can buy, design, build, test and deliver software to support world-class public services.

7. Knowledge share Dubai-style

Here at CCS, we’re always listening and learning. Recently members of our financial services team were given the chance to host a Dubai government delegation to learn from their financial services experience. Read all about it in this blog.

8. MFD tips

If you’ve identified that your organisation needs multifunctional devices for printing, scanning, copying, managed print or records management services, you might be considering a further competition. Here are our top five tips for running such a competition.

9. Buying Digital Community

Join our 7th meet-up at CCS London on 26 November 2019, where we will be joined by a host of guest speakers to discuss a range of digital topics which will help your procurement journey. Learn more and register today.

10. Upcoming webinars

10.1 Technology webinars

Among the technology webinars we have for October is a session on Network Services 2.

Register for one of these webinars today.

10.2 Sign up for our energy webinar

Join our webinar for an introduction to our new Supply of Energy & Ancillary Services framework (RM6011) and suppliers.

You can register for this webinar today.

11. Latest aggregation opportunities

11.1 IT hardware

Is your organisation looking to purchase IT hardware such as laptops, desktops, or mobile handsets? Our latest aggregation brought together 6 customers’ requirements for IT hardware, helping them to achieve average savings of 16.7% – equivalent to £300,000 for the customers who took part.

Learn more about how you could save on IT hardware today.

11.2 Mobile voice and data

Buying mobile voice and data services is a common process for many organisations. Our latest aggregation brought together 12 customers’ requirements for mobile voice and data services, helping them achieve average savings of 73% – equivalent to £1.55million for the customers who took part.

Find out how aggregation could help you save on mobile voice and data services.

11.3 Software led tech for LAs

Are you in a local authority looking to purchase software-led office systems such as app-related consultancy services, software support and maintenance, software licences, or maintenance services including development, testing and implementation of software updates?

Share your requirements with us and learn how you can save through aggregation.

11.4 Payroll services

Does your organisation need payroll services, or will your current contract be ending in the next 4 years? Learn more about our planned aggregations for payroll services today.

12. New frameworks and updates

*Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4 RM1043.6 is now live and is available to access through the Digital Marketplace. Find out more about buying, designing, building and delivering digital outcomes.

*Courier Services RM7171 is an agreement which is currently in development. Are you involved in the buying Courier Services? Have you used CCS Courier Services? If yes, register your interest to help shape it.

*Supply and Fit of Tyres, Consumables and Associated Services RM6142 is in development. If you would you like to get involved in this process please register.

*Education Technology RM6103 is a new framework to help schools, colleges and universities buy ICT equipment and services. It replaces ICT Services for Education RM1050.

*GSI Convergence Framework (GCF) Update - October

In response to feedback, Vodafone will now be issuing credit notes in full for all invoices raised since July 2019. Fresh invoices will be generated to accurately reflect new pricing in the CCS:Vodafone extension contract along with any requested service ceases. Credit notes and revised invoices will be generated following the signing of the new contract.

Some Payment Declaration Letters for the 2019/20 services costs are still outstanding and urgently required – please check your organisation has returned theirs.

Find out more in our news item and October’s update

13.1 Public Procurement Review Service

You can view the latest Public Procurement Review Service 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.

13.2 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.

13.3 Procurement tools

14. 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 customer service team on 0345 410 2222

You can also follow us on Twitter and connect with us on LinkedIn.

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