Procuring goods or services for government departments, agencies and public bodies in the public sector can be a complex process. There are guidelines, policies and governance to adhere to and internal processes and procedures to follow.
This can lead to lengthy and costly procurement processes.
At eXceeding, we have a team of category experts who are dedicated to consulting on procurement within the Public Sector. We understand the steps it takes to manage a fully compliant OJEU procurement process and can easily adapt our tried and tested methodologies to suit the needs of different public sector organisations.
Aarun is a seasoned procurement transformation consultant. Her expertise lies within end-to-end procurement transformation, procurement visioning and strategy, category management implementation and sustainable procurement.
The eXceeding team were initially recommended to us to assist us with a contract exit negotiation strategy from our long-term outsourcer. It soon became apparent that the Trust required an experienced transition team. We asked eXceeding to fulfil that gap. They provided a team of experienced professionals which ramped up and down as the project ebbed and flowed, providing us with a highly flexible resource model. The project was a huge success and was delivered on time and within budget.
The eXceeding team was recommended to me by one of our own team who had worked with their consultants previously. We were not disappointed! We had access to multiple members of the eXceeding team and they kept us well informed throughout the process, but they managed every element of what could have been a very complex procurement process. We would be happy to recommend them to anyone struggling to manage OJEU processes like we were.
eXceeding utilised a number of SME procurement consultants that flexed up and down as the project hit peaks and troughs due to compressed project deadlines, delivering on circa 15 individual procurements. They were clearly subject matter experts who worked to our internal governance and slightly amended Green Book. We subsequently engaged them to work on a critical paper arching project.
Public sector procurement is responsible for some of the highest levels of spend in the economy, which is paid for by the UK taxpayer. So it goes without saying that it is subject to much stricter rules and rigorous governance. Critically that spend comes from public funds – meaning that the way in which money is spent on goods and services is scrutinised, to ensure the best possible value for money for the public purse.
Transparency is therefore a key part of the process and any department, office or authority should be seen to be open and upfront with potential tenderers. As part of any invitation to tender (or ITT), organisations must clearly state conditions for participation, selection criteria, award criteria and the reasons why tenderers were successful or unsuccessful.
There is also a requirement for notices of all procurements over an agreed contract value to be published to an online government system – now Find a Tender (FTS) – to ensure fair and open procurement for all. With penalties set for non-compliance, there is a high level of responsibility placed on public sector departments when procuring supplies, services or works.
In this blog we explore the changes to public sector procurement, post-Brexit, and how UK businesses will transact business with the public sector moving forwards.
By Hayley Preedy on 3 December 2020
It is clear from these challenges that any public sector procurement exercise must be treated with care and carried out by informed parties who understand its complexities and who will follow a robust and totally auditable process.
Sometimes it’s easier to discuss your requirements directly. Contact one of our expert consultants now.
If you are looking to invest in a partnership with a procurement consultant, it is vital that you select one with the knowledge and understanding needed to navigate the complexities of OJEU compliant public sector procurement.
eXceeding has considerable experience in public sector procurement. We understand how to advise contracting authorities on all aspects of their procurement processes, consider frameworks where appropriate and ensure that a compliant and auditable process is followed every time, whilst getting the desired best practice outcomes.
We have a wide range of proven experience in public sector organisations such as Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, CRFCA (part of the MoD), Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, ECMWF, HASSRA, and Origin Housing. Our procurement specialists know what is needed for you to acquire your services, supplies or works under the scrutiny of compliance, transparency and value for money.
We provide full public sector procurement support, offering any or all of a full 360° service:
We have also established a number of collaborative partnerships enabling public sector buyers to access our services through frameworks such as NEPRO, Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and G-Cloud , as well as authorised supplier status with Bloom, Bramble Hub and Consultancy+, which supports our credentials as a government supplier.
No matter what your requirements, we work with you to facilitate access to new products, services, efficiencies, innovations and markets. With all our clients, we take the time to properly analyse and define your requirements so that you can be confident that the proposed solutions and best practice guidance are tailored, and achievable, for your specific needs.
We have a team of experienced and highly knowledgeable consultants that can help you with your complex public sector needs.
Running competitive tenders can be complex and resource heavy, but can also open up a huge amount of opportunity to drive down costs, extract value, innovate and diversity your supplier base. We can support you all the way.
Contract renegotiation shouldn’t just be focused on at the point of renewal or change. We can help you take a more collaborative approach to your contract discussions and enhance your organisation’s performance as a result.
People are your organisation’s most valuable asset. Finding the right people, at the right time, with the expertise and relevant knowledge you need, can be a lengthy process. However, it’s often crucial to your organisation reaching its full potential.
