Guidance

Crown Commercial Service update: September 2016

Published 22 September 2016

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crown-commercial-service-customer-update-september-2016/crown-commercial-service-update-september-2016

1. Malcolm Harrison confirmed as chief executive

We are pleased to confirm that Malcolm Harrison has been appointed chief executive of CCS.

Malcolm was appointed interim chief executive in May 2016 following the departure of Sally Collier. He has substantial procurement experience and an extensive board-level business career. He is formerly chief procurement officer at Interbrew/InBev and Nestlé SA.

Read more

2. We want to know how we can do better

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to buy from us, so please help us help you by letting us know how we could do better.

We recognise that buying from us isn’t always easy. We want to change that and we’d like to find out what you need and want by talking to those who actually do the buying.

We’re particularly interested in speaking to people who aren’t procurement professionals but have to buy things as part of their role. For instance, you might be a teacher who buys materials for a classroom activity, or work in the PR department of a local council and buy leaflets to distribute.

By sharing your thoughts, frustrations, ideas and feedback you’ll help us develop a service that makes it easier and quicker for you to buy.

We’d like to know what you do, how you purchase things at the moment, what works and what doesn’t. It won’t take long - just a 30 minute call. It’s completely confidential, and you won’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to.

If you’d like to share your views please call Sammi on 07703 841151, email sammi.naylor@crowncommercial.gov.uk or fill in this form and we will get in touch with you.

3. 5 things every public sector organisation needs to do to cut IT costs

There’s been a revolution going on in the world of IT services for public sector organisations over the past year or so. It has put choice and cost savings into the hands of every one of the near 600 public sector organisations that currently use the GSi Convergence Framework (GCF) to purchase many of their important IT services.

But it seems that some organisations may miss out on this opportunity if they don’t move quickly. That means you could be locked into a deal that limits your choice and flexibility, and costs you far more than it should.

So, if you’re currently a GCF customer - and that’s pretty well every PSN-connected organisation across the country - your contract will likely expire between December 2016 and March 2017. That means you’ll need to buy some alternative services to replace the ones included in the GCF contract to continue to reach the important government and law enforcement services you need.

Learn more about what you need to do

4. Measuring social value: Office of Civil Society case studies

The Office of Civil Society has provided £30,000 of funding to 8 external providers, with expertise in social value and/or impact management, so that they can work with commissioners on practically applying the Public Services (Social Value Act) 2012. This work is known as the Social Value Implementation and Measurement Project.

Each provider is sharing their experience through a case study. The case studies provide real accounts of what can be involved at the forefront of generating social value. As well as giving a practical insight, the case studies are intended to serve as starting points for initiating new ideas and sparking innovative thinking.

Read the first 2 case studies in the series

5. 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.

We have recently published a progress report for 2015-16.

You can also 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.

6. Fleet eAuctions

In August we ran an eAuction for over 1,500 vehicles and are delighted to report average savings of 40% against the manufacturer’s retail price for our customers.

eAuctions consistently achieve significantly higher savings than individual further competitions and provide flexibility in terms of payment and delivery. We run the eAuction on behalf of customers so there is very little administration for you to deal with. If you would like to find out more about joining a fleet eAuction please email jeff.cushion@crowncommercial.gov.uk

7. 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.

Recent examples of our aggregation success can be found in our case study collection

7.1 Current opportunities

Adobe products

We’re running aggregated further competitions 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

If you are interested in getting involved or finding out more please email technologyaggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk

Mobile voice and data services

Services for this aggregated further competition will include, but not be limited to, voice, SMS and data services. We’re currently gathering customer interest before collating requirements with a view to award in March 2017. If you are interested in getting involved or finding out more please email technologyaggregation@crowncommercial.gov.uk quoting NFC63.

7.2 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

8. Pre-procurement engagement

8.1 Contact centres

Are you a public sector organisation with a contact centre operation that links you with the public on a daily basis? If so, we would love to talk to you. We’re developing a brand new commercial solution to provide industry leading, scaleable contact centre services, improved customer service and value for money. We want to make sure we understand your needs - now and in the future - so to help us shape this exciting new service please email contactcentres@crowncommercial.gov.uk

8.2 Furniture

We’re currently engaging with customers, suppliers and industry bodies to understand the changes in the furniture market and ensure our new commercial solution meets your needs. We’re interested in hearing from public sector customers who have feedback on the current agreement or their future requirements, or would like to be involved in developing the procurement strategy. If you would like to get involved please email property@crowncommercial.gov.uk. We will be holding our first round of supplier and customer engagement sessions shortly. We’ll also be sharing information as our plans progress on our procurement pipeline.

8.3 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. If you’re interested in getting involved, the next one is on 11 October in London

View further information, including the Prior Information Notice and details of how we are engaging with customers and suppliers during the discovery phase

8.4 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. 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.

9. CCS events

9.1 Free workshops to help NHS trusts manage their 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 eRostering and other workforce management software services.

Register for your preferred date and venue:

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 health workforce solutions.

9.2 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:

9.3 Software licensing

Our October software licensing webinar is taking place on Wednesday 26 October at 10.30am and will be repeated on Friday 28 October at 10.30am.

9.4 G-Cloud

The next G-Cloud webinar will be on 12 October 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 session is scheduled for 10:30am on 9 November.

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

10. Conferences and exhibitions

You can find us at the following events over the coming weeks:

  • 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

  • Higher Education Show: we’re exhibiting at this free to attend event on 11 October at Olympia, London. Register for free

  • Local Government Procurement Expo: our chief executive, Malcolm Harrison, is presenting a keynote speech about how we are working with local government customers and Nick Caton, Commercial Director, Wider Public Sector is taking part in a panel debate on the implications of Brexit in local government procurement and delivering social value. You can also find us at stand 3 in the exhibition. Register for free

  • HCSA Annual Conference and Exhibition: we’re exhibiting at the Health Care Supply Association (HCSA) annual conference and exhibition at Harrogate International Centre on 2 and 3 November

  • Procurex Scotland: we’re exhibiting at this free to attend event on 9 November at SECC, Glasgow. Come and visit us at stand 74. Register for free

11. New agreements

Grants and Programme Services (RM949) is now live giving you access to services for grants administration, promotion, implementation and evaluation services.

12. New contract notices

The following new procurement contract notices have recently been published:

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

13. Agreements expiring shortly

14. Agreement extensions

15. Recently expired agreements

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

17. 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

18. 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

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