How is the public sector procuring faster?
The UK gov have announced some ways of getting the public sector procuring faster. Here are some of the things announced...
With the current ongoing situation and increasing need for excellent public services and healthcare in the wake of Covid-19, the UK government have had to adapt quickly.
Procurement rules and regulations, and methods in which public sector buyers can purchase services and technology, are having to be streamlined and updated. One of the reasons for this is to ensure that the government is able to provide in a time of need.
Here are just some of the ways that the UK public sector are procuring faster.
Publishing new Procurement Policy Notices (PPNs)
The government have recent published two new PPNs to help public sector buyers in this time. These PPNs provide information about what they can do to procure quicker, whilst still maintaining a fair and efficient process.
The first of these PPNs, 01/20 and entitled Response to Covid-19, outlines how buyers can emergency buy services and goods. Buyers are now able to cut down their procurement times substantially.
The second of these, PPN 02/20 entitled Supplier Relief due to Covid-19, sets out to ensure that public bodies are supported in paying suppliers. In effect, making sure that services carry on as usual and that all providers of goods or services to the public sector are supported financially.
Extending current frameworks
A way in which the government are helping support these PPNs is by extending many of the current frameworks operated by Crown Commercial Service. Frameworks such as G-Cloud 11 and Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4 will now be open until March 2021. This means that buyers can keep using these methods to procure services quickly and compliantly.
Don’t worry though – the next iterations of these frameworks are still opening up before then! For example, G-Cloud 12, which is currently open for applications until 20th July, is expected to open in September 2020.
Other frameworks currently announced to be extended are: Traffic Management Technology 2, Lot 6 of Technology Products 2 and Digital Training and Support.
Utilising Dynamic Purchasing Systems
Other ways that public sector departments are procuring faster is through the use of Dynamic Purchasing Systems. It’s around about this time that we’re seeing one of the big benefits of these flexible routes to procurement. For example, the NHS LPP have just announced that two new categories have been added to the Health and Social Care Applications DPS. These are Chest & Lungs and Covid-19 support applications.
The ability to adapt the current DPS and add new categories, or Lots, which suppliers can immediately start providing, is a reason we’re seeing more DPSs popping up.
These are just some of the changes happening within public sector procurement to help in these pressuring times. To get more information on what this all means for buyers and suppliers, as well as more updates on the current state of play for government procurement, join our upcoming webinar.
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