Guidance

Crown Commercial Service update: July 2018

Published 9 July 2018

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1. New public sector travel and venue solutions agreements opens for business

Our new public sector travel and venue solutions commercial agreement has recently launched. Public sector travel and venue solutions (RM6016) includes online solutions for rail travel, accommodation and air travel to provide you with a seamless, user-friendly booking experience, which are now similar to booking personal travel for leisure. In addition, you can also access event services, including venue find as well as the one stop shop Travel Management Company service for both online and offline services.

We have appointed 7 suppliers to deliver services to all public sector customers including local authorities, universities, schools, NHS trusts and the third sector.

Saving you time and money Our aim is to reduce the cost of travel for you, one way we will do this is through low cost online booking fees and zero online booking fees (applicable across specific solutions) as well as providing you access to a wide network of discounted air fares and accommodation rates available through our Public Sector Negotiated Programmes. This means you can access the same level of discounts as our largest central government organisations, demonstrating true value for money across all of the public sector.

The new suite of solutions offer you choice, commercial value and innovation for all public sector organisations, embracing developments in technology to enhance both the experience for organisations managing travel and for public sector customers booking travel.

Users of Public sector travel and venue solutions benefit from a mix of specialist providers, multiple pricing options and a choice of online-only and online-and-offline services.

How to access Access to the programmes and new travel solutions will be available through our brand new Purchasing Platform – currently known as Digital Travel Solution (DigiTS).

The new digital platform will allow customers to utilise multiple solutions under a single sign-on.

If you’d like to see how we can help you now, visit our Travel pages or if you have an questions fill in our contact form.

2. Speakers announced and sponsors confirmed for digitech 18 on 31 October at Leeds First Direct Arena

We are delighted to announce that more speakers have been added to our line up for the UK’s largest public sector technology show - set to take place at Leeds’ First Direct Arena this October.

digitech 18 will see hundreds of technology and procurement specialists meet to discuss key issues affecting the UK’s public sector technology landscape including digital transformation, the SME agenda, Robotics and AI. Confirmed speakers at the 2018 event include:

  • Niall Quinn, Technology Director at Crown Commercial Service
  • Gareth Rhys Williams, Government Chief Commercial Officer
  • Geoff Connell, Local Government Association
  • Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer for London Mayor’s Office
  • Warren Smith, Government Digital Service
  • Emma Jones, Cabinet Office Crown Representative for Small Business
  • Dermot Ryan, Director of HSCN, NHS Digital
  • Ian McCormack, Technical Director for Applied Risk Management, National Cyber Security Centre

We can now confirm that FCO Services (part of Foreign & Commonwealth Office) will be digitech 18’s title sponsor and IBM will be a major sponsor for the event. There are many other organisations supporting the event, which includes Cabinet Office, Socitm and Computer Weekly.

The event takes place on Wednesday 31 October.

Niall Quinn, Technology Director at CCS says:

‘digitech 18 will be the largest showcase event for public sector technology professionals held this year, with representatives from key players across government and the private and third sector. > ‘We want to demystify public sector procurement, and generate a debate about how technology can best deliver efficient, effective public services.’

Confirmed exhibitors at this year’s event include CCS, SOCITM, Innopsis, Bridewell Consulting, GDS, Redcentric, Adept, Hornbill, MLL Telecom, Frazer-Nash, Pulsar Platform, Capita, Dell, TNP and Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation.

Register now for your free place at digitech18 and discover what the future holds for public sector technology procurement.

3. User testing opportunities – we need your help

At CCS, our team of designers have been working hard to digitise a range of agreements to simplify and optimise public sector procurement.

We are looking for customers who are interested in using one of our upcoming agreements, to provide feedback on our new platforms to ensure we create a solution that meets your requirements.

We will be holding user testing sessions for the following platforms:

  • Management Consultancy
  • Facilities Management Marketplace
  • Legal Services

Find out how you can get involved.

4. Use behavioural insights to help you improve your services

The use of behavioural insights in the public sector is based on one simple idea: policy should be designed around people.

It can help you formulate and deliver your desired outcome by helping you understand how citizens make choices, so that you can tailor your services to meet their needs.

The 4 basic principles of behavioural insights are:

  • Make it easy
  • Make it attractive
  • Make it social
  • Make it timely

So if your organisation is looking for innovative ways to improve policy and service design and delivery, or implement organisational reform, then our new Behavioural Insights framework is ideal for you. It will help you to tap into the very best expertise from a wide range of suppliers, including SMEs. To find out more visit the framework web page or get in touch and mention ‘behavioural insights’ in the comments box, along with any questions you have, and we’ll get back to you.

5. G-Cloud 10 is open for business

Our G-Cloud 10 framework is now live and open for business.

G-Cloud gives public and third sector organisations a way to purchase cloud-based services such as web hosting and cloud software from a single, central website. The framework is for commodity based, pay-as-you go cloud services across 3 lots – Cloud Hosting, Cloud Software and Cloud Support.

3,505 suppliers – with more than 90 per cent of them SMEs – have been awarded places on the new G-Cloud 10 CCS framework – 649 more than G-Cloud 9.

Since 2012, more than £3 billion of cloud and digital services have been procured by public organisations through G-Cloud, with 48% of that spend going directly to SMEs.

To find out more about G-Cloud, read the full news article. Got a question? Get in touch and our team will be happy to help.

6. 7 fire & rescue services save £807,000 on IT hardware

Crown Commercial Service has helped 7 fire and rescue services save an average of 26% on IT hardware through an aggregated further competition.

Using the Crown Commercial Service Technology Products 2 framework (RM3733), a further competition was run, based on a standardised specification. The best overall offer in the market was obtained by taking into consideration both price and non-price factors. Sealed bids were received simultaneously from 3 suppliers, opened and evaluated on a specified deadline date leading to award of the contract.

Running an aggregated procurement achieved an indicative saving of 26% when compared to a blend of average bid prices and market pricing (where available).

This is the equivalent to a total saving of £807,000 for the customers who took part.

These results clearly demonstrate that by combining the requirements of different public sector organisations significant cost savings can quickly be realised.

Read our full case study or to find out more about future opportunities, please view our dedicated aggregation webpage.

7. Focus Academy Trust is set to save £7500 annually on their water bills

Focus Academy Trust is a charitable multi-academy trust that was established in 2012, which encompasses over 8000 students. The trust has a thriving partnership of 11 converter and 4 sponsored academies. They wanted to take advantage of the deregulated water market and reduce their water bills to optimise savings and redirect essential funds back into front line resources. Under the newly developed the Water, Wastewater and Ancillary Services framework (RM3790), CCS ran the UK’s first aggregated further competition for monthly and quarterly water billing, bringing together the requirements of 121 customers.

Focus Academy Trust switched 7 schools to Castle Water Ltd for monthly billing and is set to save £7500 annually on their water bills. Read the full case study to find out how we can help you save on your water.

8. Act now on deemed rate meters - £170k realised in commercial benefits so far

Many of our gas customers have meters added to their portfolio throughout the year, but they may inadvertently forget to add them to their CCS contract. If they forget, their p/kWh charges can be three or four times higher than their contract rate. To date, seven customers have successfully transferred 41 meters to contract rates. This represents a commercial benefit of just over £170k and an average saving on their unit rate of 180%. To find out more read our full case study.

9. Aggregation opportunities

9.1 Water and Wastewater Services

Following the success of the CCS led first UK aggregated further competition for Water, we will be running another further competition for Lot 1 - Water and Wastewater supply.  

We anticipate this competition will be held early October in order to provide customers with the ability to switch supplier before the end of the year.

This further competition is open to all public sector, non-residential premises, and the deadline is 31 July.

To get involved, email info@crowncommercial.gov.uk and register your interest. 

9.2 Fuels

Our National Fuels framework gives you access to a variety of solid and liquid fuels, including liquified gas, greases, lubricants and antifreeze.

We are running quarterly aggregated further competitions to deliver you the best prices, and recommend you consider joining the next aggregation if you have new requirements, or would like to add new sites to your existing arrangements for the start of the next financial year. By joining an aggregation you will benefit from an easy route to market, with options for both regional and national suppliers.

If you are interested in taking part in the next aggregation please get in touch – simply tick the aggregation box and quote RM3801 – National Fuels.

9.3 Mobile voice and data

If you are interested in joining the next aggregated further competition under our Network Services (RM1045) framework for mobile voice and data services please get in touch before the end of April.

It is anticipated that the contract will be in place in July, offering customers 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
  • structuring services as “bolt-ons” enabling you to build packages to suit your specific requirements and removing the restrictions of a “one size fits all” approach
  • 30-day terms for “bolt-ons” so you can change your mix of services during the contract

Our last competition saved 17 customers over £2.7 million. Read more in this case study.

To express your interest get in touch– simply tick the aggregation box and quote NFC93 mobiles aggregation.

Want to learn more about how our free to use aggregation service works? Watch our short film

10. Technology webinars

We all know that the technology landscape is fast-paced and constantly evolving. Whether you are an experienced tech buyer or new to this area, our upcoming webinars are a great way to hear from our commercial specialists and ensure that you are getting the best solution for your organisation.

Network Services

Data and Application Solutions – Customer Engagement

We are currently developing a new framework for Data and Application Solutions, which goes live for supplier bids in July 2018 and is expected to be available for all customers in February 2019. This is a direct replacement for our Corporate Software Solutions (RM1042) and Local Authority Software Application (RM1059) frameworks and expands the coverage to include health & social care, blue light services and education applications. During this customer webinar, we walk you through:

  • The lotting structure,
  • The route to market (direct award via an online catalogue and further competition)
  • How it can be used by you to support your enterprise and local authority software activities

Register 19 July 9:30am

10.1 NFC96 Mobile Voice & Data Aggregation

Learn more about the upcoming CCS aggregation for Mobile Voice and Data via our Network Services framework – including the scope, process and how to begin your savings analysis. We recently helped 13 customers (totalling over 20,000 connections) save £1.9m – an average indicative saving of 50% compared to the prices customers were paying.

Register 19 July 11:00am

Register 24 July 11:00am

Technology Services 2

Covering everything from operational services through to transition and transformation. Join us for this overview of the Tech Services 2 framework covering what you can buy and how you can buy it.

Register 25 July 10:30am

10.2 Crown Hosting Services

Learn all about the benefits of using this agreement to achieve best value for buyers to access co-located physical data centre space.

Register 30 July 11:00am

11. Estates Professional Services and PMFDTS Webinars

We are hosting a series of webinars to help explain what, and how, you can buy estates professional services and project management solutions through our agreements.

11.1 Intro to Estates Professional Services and Project Management and Full Design Team Services

Join our 30 minute webinar to introduce you to our Estates Professional Services and Project Management and Full Design Team Services agreements and how they can provide an efficient, effective and compliant solution.

11.2 Estates Professional Services and Project Management and Full Design Team Services – Next steps

Now that you know more about our EPS and PMFDTS frameworks, this 30 minute webinar explains your next steps in engaging with the suppliers and refining your procurement plans, navigating the various cost models and understanding supplier rates, and then hints and tips on how to tender for your project, whether through direct award or further competition.

11.3 Estates Professional Services – going deeper

Our Estates Professional Services framework provides you with a single solution for all your professional property related services. This 30 minute webinar goes deeper in to the structure of the framework, the features and benefits of it, the supplier base and answers your frequently asked questions on why this is the best solution for your organisation.

11.4 Project Management & Full Design Team Services – going deeper

This 30 minute webinar will help you fully understand the breadth of our Project Management & Full Design Team Services agreement: how the 6 lots cover the wide range of disciplines and services, how to buy through the framework, and how our best in class supplier management process all ensure you achieve the best value in construction services.

12. Learning and development webinar

Choose our Managed Learning Service framework for all your learning and development needs and make great savings. All customers, no matter how big or small, benefit from the same volume discounts, which are based on cumulative spend through the framework.

You can typically expect to save in excess of 10% when opting for for a managed service, and an online catalogue option offers discounts of 25% or more.

Find out more or join our 60 minute webinar to learn about the online catalogue offer.

13. Spend Analysis and Recovery Services webinar

Join Paul Davies, our Commercial Agreements Lead for Financial Services, for this 60 minute webinar to learn more about the SARS framework. It will give you an overview of the Spend Analysis and Recovery Services framework, what are the benefits, the lotting structure and how they work and the difference between direct award and running a further competition.

14. Intro to Energy Trading & Risk webinar

Join our webinar where our expert in-house trading and risk team will talk through how they have developed an energy management process that is dedicated to saving the public sector time, money and carbon. During the webinar we give you an overview of our specialist trading and risk function, how we help to achieve the best possible price for customers and the different products and risk strategies that are available for Gas and Power.

15. Upcoming events

15.1 Civil Service Live - registration opened on 26 April

Civil Service Live is the government’s annual, cross-department learning event, attracting thousands of civil servants to learn, network and share best practice - with the ultimate goal of providing better public service.

The agenda and registration will open for delegates from Wednesday 26 April at www.civilservicelive.com

The conferences offer engaging, interactive and thought provoking sessions, led by dynamic, expert and inspirational speakers, and this year the event is focused on the themes of the Civil Service vision - A Brilliant Civil Service.

It is a great development opportunity, designed to motivate civil servants to continue to adopt the vision and demonstrate leadership so make sure you reserve your place at your chosen venue:

  • Thursday 12 July: St James’ Park, Newcastle
  • Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 July: QEII Centre, London

If you would like to find out more about the events and sponsorship, speaking or exhibition opportunities please email customer.service@dodsgroup.com or call 020 7593 5500.

15.2 Digitech18 – the technology & procurement showcase for the public sector

Digitech18 is a new and innovative event aimed at everyone with an interest in technology for the UK public sector. Bringing together a wide range of speakers and workshops, the event will help to demystify the technology landscape and showcase some of the latest technology solutions that are helping to transform the way in which public sector organisations deliver services for citizens.

Timed to reflect the urgent pressures faced by public sector organisations in delivering their digital transformation agendas, including tacking IT disaggregation and transitioning services to the cloud, digitech18 is set to be a must attend event for all public sector organisations.

With speakers and partners from SOCITM, GDS, CCS, Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association and many more there is something to appeal to technology leads and commercial teams from across the entire public sector. Delegates will learn more about how they can procure and deliver transformational change in their own organisation and maximise the benefits that their technology spend can provide.

The event is free of charge for public sector delegates and will provide you with access to some of the UK’s leading technology experts in our two theatres, covering commercial excellence, the changing technology market, transformation and policy. Spaces are strictly limited so please register today to ensure you don’t miss out.

16. New framework

17. Recently expired frameworks

18. Framework extensions

19.1 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.

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 Procurement tools

20. 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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