Guidance

Crown Commercial Service update: September 2018

Published 7 September 2018

1. Looking for Construction Products and Consumables?

We’re in the process of developing a new commercial agreement to replace our existing Building Materials and Personal Protective Equipment Frameworks: RM3747 and RM3763 respectively. RM3747 is due to expire in February 2019 and we want to make sure our new commercial agreement suits your needs.

Customers are at the forefront of what we do, and we want to ensure the scope of the agreement and the customer journey will cater for your specific needs.

At this early stage we are proposing the new agreement will cover the following lots

1 – Heavy Building Materials and Finishing Trades 2 – Plumbing and Heating Materials 3 – Electrical Materials 4 – Timber and Joinery 5 – Hand and Power Tools 6 – Paints and Solvents 7 – Flooring and Tiling 8 – Personal Protective Equipment 9 NEW! – Kitchens and Bathrooms 10 NEW! – Cleaning consumables and equipment

If you are interested in any of these services and would like to input, please get in touch using one of the following :

• email directly – construction-products@crowncommercial.gov.uk
• fill in our online form and reference ‘Construction Products and Consumables’ in the comments box
• call us on 0345 410 2222

2. digitech18 – secure your space today

It’s not long now until digitech18 opens its doors at the First Direct Arena, Leeds. The event will host technology users and procurement delegates from healthcare, local government, central government, blue light services and education sectors, all of whom will attend free of charge.

A combined conference and technology showcase, digitech18 is the brainchild of the partnership between Crown Commercial Service and Public Sector Connect and will feature a host of presentations by influential, high-profile, speakers from both public and private sectors.

Add to that a large exhibition area populated by more than 60 technology solution providers, both large and small and you have an event that qualifies you for 5 CPD hours/points, making it truly unmissable!

Spaces are strictly limited so please register today to ensure you don’t miss out.

3. CCS’s digital buying community is live

We’re pleased to announce the launch of our brand new digital buying community.

A year ago, our procurement operations team embarked on a journey to help buyers of digital, data and technology services from across the public and third sector build their commercial and technical awareness.

Many of the requirements from buyers posted on the Digital Marketplace were either non-compliant or poorly worded which results in challenges from suppliers and delayed timescales for buyers, so we decided to go out and talk to our users to see how we could provide extra support and guidance.

When we completed a discovery we found that many of those involved in the procurement of digital services felt uncertain about how the Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) framework process worked. It was clear that there was a need to build a better technical and commercial understanding.

To deliver this knowledge, CCS collaborated with the Digital Marketplace team at Government Digital Service (GDS) to deliver workshops on topics like agile statement of works, balanced scorecards and writing agile requirements, among others.

Building capability is a big job and represents a step-change for both central government and the wider public sector. So, after delivering over 70 workshops, we decided to launch the digital buying community to create and support a peer group of buyers from the public and third sector who can share knowledge, discuss common challenges and develop solutions.

By bringing digital procurement professionals together to share their expertise we hope to be able to spread best practice for buying digital and technology services across the public sector.

How can you get involved? Our third meeting will take place on the 19th of September in London. We are aiming to get 100 buyers to join our community so if you want to participate, or know of any buyers that would benefit from this session, please get in touch.

Join the digital buying community mailing list by completing our contact form and quoting ‘digital buying community’ in the comments box.

4. Travel webinar - sign up today

Public Sector Travel and Venue Solutions is a brand new agreement designed to save you time and money when booking travel for your organisation.

Join our webinar on 18 September to find out how you can pick the solutions that best meet your needs, choose from suppliers that offer a fully managed ‘one stop shop’ to online services that are quick and easy to use, along with access to an unparalleled range of negotiated rates and fares.

Tuesday 18 September 14:30pm - register

5. Aggregation opportunities

5.1 Fleet

We run 3 vehicle eAuctions a year as by combining customer requirements we can help organisations make great savings on the whole life costs of vehicles – whether you need 1 or 1,000. We do this by using standardised vehicle specifications and our bulk buying power to make your requirements more attractive to suppliers, meaning customers can save as much as 40% on manufacturer’s retail price.

Our eAuctions are run under lots 1 and 2 of the Vehicle Purchase (RM1070) framework. Any volume or vehicle type can be considered, and we can also help you if you want to lease rather than buy vehicles.

The next planned eAuctions will be :

• 13 February 2019: deadline for involvement 2 January 2019

To express your interest get in touch – simply tick the aggregation box and quote ‘Fleet eAuction’.

5.2 Mobile voice and data

We run 3 aggregations per year for Mobile Voice and Data under RM1045 Network Services Lot 6. Please see below for dates of next procurement.

Benefits are: * Better pricing as a result of a larger aggregate volume; * CCS manage and operate the procurement on your behalf, reducing the cost and risk of the procurement exercise; * Co-terminus contract term meaning all connections will cease on a common end date ending ragged contract end dates. * A phased migration approach over a 1 year period (of 75% of nominated connections); allowing Customers, who are still in contract for many of their connections, to migrate over time without incurring early termination charges; * A ‘Build Your Own’ Tariff approach, with a base connection with no line rental charge, negating zero-use costs.

Who can participate?

To determine whether mobile aggregation is right for you and to make the most of the opportunity Customers should:

• have a requirement for mobile voice and data services now, or a requirement that will need fulfilling within the next 12 months;
• be able to accept the network coverage from the suppliers listed under Lot 6 of RM1045;
• be confident that you will fulfil your requirement via the aggregated competition;
• be sure that the content and structure of the service description meets your needs (when determined and shared); and
• be in a position to migrate your requirement onto the new contract by the end of the first year.
• Scope of procurements

The suppliers will be provided with a list of services to be priced including but not limited to:

• Voice, SMS, MMS;
• Data;
• Roaming voice, SMS, MMS and data for Europe, North America and Rest of the World;
• Equipment Credits to support the purchase of devices.

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

Dates of next procurement:

• October – December 2018: gathering expressions of interest and requirements from customers
• December 2018 – January 2019: customer requirements continued and savings analysis
• End of January 2019: customer commitment required
• February 2019: procurement based on committed customer volume
• March 2019: award to winning bidder and customers enter into contract

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

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

5.3 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.

To express your interest get in touch – simply tick the aggregation box and quote ‘RM3801 – National Fuels’.

6. 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.

6.1 G Cloud

Find out how to search for and buy cloud computing services like infrastructure, platform, software and specialist cloud services.

12 September 10:30am - register

6.2 Network Services

Networks remain fundamental for the successful delivery of public services. Join us for this overview of the Network Services framework, covering how to buy a variety of services, from mobile connections to wide area network connections.

20 September 2:30pm - register

6.3 Tech 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.

26 September 10:30am - register

6.4 Technology Products 2

Join our customer overview of the different ways you can use our agreement for all your IT hardware and commodity software needs, including access to our extensive online catalogue, the Purchasing Platform.

27 September 12:00pm - register

7. 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.

7.1 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.

• 14 November 11:15am – register

7.2 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 December 11:15am – register

7.3 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.

18 October 11:15am – register

7.4 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.

23 October 11:15am – register

7.5 Spend Analysis and Recovery Services Webinar

With our Spend Analysis and Recovery Services framework suppliers can review existing and previous, up to 6 years, utilities agreements and billing to identify, report and recover any charge errors or under recovered balances.

12 September 11:30am - register

8. Utilities and Fuels Webinars

Interested in finding out more about how we can help you with your Utilities and Fuels requirements? Our specialised Utilities and Fuels teams are hosting a series of webinars to help explain what and how you can buy through our agreements, and also providing insight into our trading and risk processes.

8.1 Trading and Risk

We’re the biggest supplier of energy solutions to the Public Sector, in the UK, and as such have an expert Trading and Risk team that are dedicated to saving you time, money and carbon - join our webinar to find out how they do it.

7 November 2.30pm - register

10 January 11.00am - register

7 March 2.30pm - register

8.2 Utilities Management Software

Find out how our agreement can help you access a range of supporting services to identify waste and take steps to reduce your usage to save money on your bills.

Intro - 4 October 11.30am - register

Going deeper - 30 October 2.30pm - register

9. Upcoming events

9.1 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.

9.2 Utilities & Fuels customer event

Would you like to hear more about the future of Utilities & Fuels at CCS? Would you like the opportunity to contribute to our strategy?

Then come along to our dedicated customer event and have your say!

The event will provide an overview of our Utilities & Fuels strategy. It will detail our latest developments, while also providing an opportunity for you to voice your requirements.

The event will include:

• New initiatives - our new products and services currently in the pipeline
• Action review - what have we done in response to our last strategy event?
• Quarterly update - news and progress in the last three months
• What the future holds - our long term vision for the future of Utilities & Fuels across the public sector

Please note: This event is for Public and Third Sector Organisations only.

Register today to make sure you don’t miss out.

10. New framework

• G-Cloud 10 (RM1557.10) is now open to customers.

• Management Consultancy Framework Two (RM6008) is now live.

Business, procurement, supply chain and commercial, complex and transformation and strategic consultancy options are all now available following the launch of the Management Consultancy Framework Two (RM6008) on 4 September, completing the CCS suite of management and business consultancy frameworks.

Download a brochure for further details of the scope of services available across the frameworks.

11. Framework extensions

• Workforce Management (RM1072) has been extended until 15 June 2019.

12. Quick links

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 Not yet registered? Find out how to register in our eSourcing guide.

• Purchasing Platform Not yet registered? Register and learn more about the current catalogues

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 customer service team on 0345 410 2222

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