The UK coalition government’s proposed reforms of the £230bn pa public procurement system seem like a curate’s egg according to the latest CBI survey, i.e. good in parts.
Good Egg
Respondents thought reforms were on the right track, i.e. the need for simpler and cheaper procedures, better access for SMEs and the need for better information on future opportunities.
Bad Egg
However this was qualified with a poorer response on its implementation. Moreover, only 7% of the 100 respondents, more than half of which were SMEs, thought public procurement was being delivered well. No one thought it was being delivered well. Oh dear, back to the drawing board chaps!
There are clearly contradictions in this Cabinet Office driven initiative according to the CBI’s procurement panel chairman Keith Craven the CEO of Balfour Beatty. “The government has the right policy solutions, but as suppliers, we are yet to feel the changes on the ground. Procurement reform needs to be part of a larger conversation about industrial policy and public service reform where industry wants to play its part.”
Cue Lord Tarzan intervening before breakfast, lunch and dinner replete with Basil Fawlty gait on this one too? Watch this space.
For more details:
The Public Contracts Regulations
Supplies & Services (except subsidised services contracts)
Subsidised services contracts
Works (including subsidised works contracts)
Light Touch Regime for Services
Small lots
The Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016
Supplies and Services
Works
Small lots
The Concession Contracts Regulations 2016
The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011
Supplies and Services
Works
Small lots
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 set out a number of rules for publication of public procurement notices on the Contracts Finder portal. For SME's and voluntary or charitable organisations (VCSEs) Contracts Finder offers easier access to public contract opportunities under the WTO GPA procurement thresholds necessitating publication on Find A Tender (FTS).
The notice types found on contract finder are:
1. Early engagement
Inviting feedback from industry on early procurement ideas (also known as ‘pre-procurement dialogue’).
2. Future opportunities
Information on procurements that are likely to be published in the future. The notice can be used to indicate when existing frameworks, or approved supplier lists or contracts are going to be available to be bid on.
3. Opportunities
Live invitations to tender. Used to seek to seek supply chain partners to bid for open public sector opportunities, or to tender for
subcontracts in support of delivering a public sector contract, or for lower value contracts.
4. Awarded contracts
Procurement opportunities that have been awarded to a supplier/suppliers.
NHSX is a new joint organisation that will be responsible for digital, data and technological initiatives across the NHS. It aims to take forward digital transformation initiatives within the NHS and introduce the latest digital services and technology in the healthcare system.
A statement from the Department of Health and Social Care states that, among its responsibilities, NHSX will reform procurement by:
“helping the NHS buy the right technology through the application of technology standards, streamlined spend controls and new procurement frameworks that support our standards”
NHSX will work closely with the NHS and the wider digital economy, to ensure that patients and staff have access to world-class digital services. Training will be part of this to ensure that staff are “digital ready”.
The new threshold values have been increased by 6% and apply from January 1, 2018
For contracting authorities such as central government departments/agencies and local authorities:
For contracting authorities in the utilities sector: