Small businesses – your problems with procurement
A new online feedback facility has been launched to allow SMEs to share their public procurement stories.
A new online feedback facility asks suppliers, in plain and simple terms, how to rip up the red tape and bring more common sense into securing government contracts.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude announced the launch of the facility at a summit for government suppliers.
Francis Maude described the reforms the Government is putting in place to make it easier to do business with the state and outlined what is expected of suppliers, particularly in their relations with SMEs.
He said:
You will all have experienced procurements that seemed to go on forever, cost millions of pounds and took countless hours of your employees’ time and energy. I know how frustrating this can be and I can promise you here today that we will do things differently.
During the summit, suppliers were asked to identify what aspects of the procurement process the government should target to make the purchase of services much quicker, cheaper and better.
They were also asked to identify what central government needs to do to ensure that it is an effective ‘single customer’ for services and discussed how suppliers can be involved in supporting the government initiatives in respect of SMEs, mutuals and joint ventures.