Guidance

Crown Commercial Service update: August 2016

Published 24 August 2016

This guidance was withdrawn on

This article has been withdrawn because it’s over 4 years old.

1. Case studies

We’ve launched an online collection of case studies to show how we’re using our commercial expertise to help our customers make significant savings and provide examples of how we’re working with more SMEs - we’ll be adding more examples on a regular basis. Current case studies include:

  • SME helped the BBC make significant savings in office supplies
  • G-Cloud SME helped a fire and rescue service save thousands of pounds when they upgraded their phone system
  • an NHS trust has recovered a six figure sum with spend recovery
  • UK police forces are expected to save nearly £2 million on office supplies
  • 34 local councils have saved £8.8 million on IT hardware
  • Innovative telephony solution has saved customers up to 73%
  • Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust has saved over £78,000 on electricity costs

View our case studies

2. 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.

Our recent competitions for technology products and mobile voice and data services have resulted in average price savings of 36% and 62% respectively.

More examples of our aggregation successes can be found in our case study collection

Tony Deacy, Business & Commercial Manager, IT Services, Bath & North East Somerset Council recently took part in an aggregated further competition for mobile voice and data services. He had this to say:

“Many thanks for delivering this procurement on time, with the result that we had hoped for. It is fair to say that we were nervous going down the aggregation route for the first time, but we were very surprised how easy it was for us, and how competitive the end result was. It was far easier than if we had to develop all the business requirements ourselves, and I’m certain that we would not have received such a competitive price had we worked in isolation. The contract will deliver us fantastic savings that will contribute to protecting our frontline services. The team has done a great job in making the process as simple as possible and we look forward to identifying more aggregation opportunities in the future.”

2.1 New opportunities

It is not just technology that can be successfully aggregated - the team recently helped 8 customers with their vehicle hire and car share requirements and saved 12%. So if there is something you are looking to buy, and you would like us to explore the potential to help you achieve further 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 technologyaggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk

Read on for details of upcoming technology aggregations that you can get involved with now…

2.2 Mobile voice and data services

We’re currently gathering customer interest for mobile voice and data services (NFC60). Services will include (but not be limited to) voice calls, voice mail, messaging, data and devices and equipment credits.

The closing date for customer interest is 7 September and we expect to award a contract in December 2016. Our last competition for mobile voice and data services saved customers as much as 62%, so if these timescales meet your needs please express your interest by emailing technologyaggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

2.3 Adobe products

We’re planning our first aggregated further competition for Adobe products to simplify the purchase of products that fall within the scope of the Enterprise Term License Agreement. The agreement between CCS and Adobe offers:

  • significant discounts
  • predictable budgeting for 3 years
  • latest versions of Adobe products
  • easy deployment and management

We expect to award the first contract in October and run subsequent competitions on a frequent basis. To get involved or find out more please email technologyaggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

3. Pre-procurement engagement

3.1 Technology Services 2

Technology Services (RM1058) is due to expire on 27 May 2017. We’ve started consultation with customers and suppliers on the structure and scope of the replacement agreement, Technology Services 2 (RM3804), which will also include services currently covered by Enterprise Application Support Services (RM1032).

The new agreement will take into account recent changes in the technology services marketplace, and be informed by extensive pre-procurement engagement with customers and suppliers. To ensure that the agreement is aligned with public sector needs and priorities, we’re hosting open consultation events and have also launched feedback surveys.

Events

Please register using the links below:

3.2 Estates Professional Services

The current Estates Professional Services (RM928) agreement is due to expire on 31 March 2017, and we’re beginning the process of engaging with customers, suppliers and industry bodies to understand the changes in the market and ensure the new commercial solution meets our customers’ needs.

We’re interested in hearing from public sector customers who have feedback to share or would like to be involved in helping to shape the procurement strategy. We’ll also be holding our first round of supplier and customer engagement sessions in October. If you would like to come to an event or share your feedback please email property@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

4. Events

4.1 Events for NHS trusts

NHS Health and Care Innovation Expo 2016

The NHS Health and Care Innovation Expo 2016 at Manchester Central on 7-8 September will be showcasing the best of health and social care. The CCS health workforce team will be at stand 31 to talk about health agency staffing and staff banks and show trusts how we can help them save money - whilst complying with NHS agency rules.

Register now

UK Health Show

We’ll be at the free to attend UK Health Show on 28 September at Olympia in London. As well as exhibiting, we’ll be speaking in the Procurement in Health conference theatre about our collaborative work with NHS stakeholders to deliver consistent value for money for trusts. We’re also taking part in a discussion on improving workforce productivity through better procurement.

Register to attend for free

Free workshops to help you manage your total workforce needs

Following on from the success of our workshops on agency staffing earlier this year, we’re hosting another set of free workshops to support trusts in managing their workforce more effectively and reducing reliance on agency staff.

The workshops will be a chance to network with colleagues from across the NHS and discuss the impact of the agency rules. We’ll showcase some of the tools and resources we have in place right now to help - from our Workforce Management (staff bank) framework, which is already helping trusts save money, to our agency staffing frameworks covering the full range of clinical and non-clinical roles and G-Cloud, which offers trusts access to e-rostering and other workforce management software services.

Register for your preferred date and venue:

A full agenda and timings will be available shortly.

If you can’t make it to any of these events and would like to to discuss how our health workforce project team can help you manage your agency staffing and staff bank needs please email joanne.kenyon@crowncommercial.gov.uk or call 0345 410 2222.

Find out more about our NHS Improvement approved agency staffing frameworks and Workforce Management.

4.2 Insurance services: customer insight days

We’re hosting a series of customer insight days, in collaboration with YPO, ESPO and NEPO, to provide you with guidance and support on the procurement of insurance services using the Insurance Services framework (RM3731). We’ll be updating you on the latest market insight and sharing best practice, so you have the practical advice and information you need to run an effective and successful tender.

Register for your preferred date and venue:

4.3 Software licensing

The September software licensing webinar will cover:

  • Microsoft Client Access License requirements for Office 365
  • Adobe Enterprise Term License Agreement update
  • saving money on subscription licenses

It will take place at 10.30am on Tuesday 13 September and last for about 30 mins. It will also be repeated on Friday 16 September at 10.45am. Click the link for your preferred date to register.

4.4 G-Cloud

The next G-Cloud webinar will be on 14 September at 10.30am. The session will last about an hour and include a Q&A session.

It may be of interest to you if you’re looking to buy commodity based, pay-as-you-go cloud services and would like to learn more about G-Cloud, the Digital Marketplace and the buying process.

If you cannot make this date, the next sessions are scheduled for 10:30am on:

  • 12 October
  • 9 November

To register for a webinar email cloud_digital@crowncommercial.gov.uk with your choice of date.

4.5 Procurex Wales

We’re exhibiting at this free to attend event on 6 October at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Come and visit us at stand 43.

Register for free

5. New agreements

G-Cloud 8 (RM1557viii) is now live on the Digital Marketplace. There are 757 new suppliers on the framework, 94% of which are SMEs.

Grants and Programme Services (RM949) has also recently awarded and will be available shortly.

6. New contract notices

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

7. Agreements expiring shortly

8. Agreement extensions

9. Recently expired agreements

10. Procurement policy

The guidance on amendments to contracts during their term has been updated.

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

11. Mystery Shopper scheme

The 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.

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. 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

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.

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