NPS Newsletter - December 2015

www.nps.gov.wales

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nationalprocurementservice@wales.gsi.gov.uk

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December 2015

NPS news title

Contents

1. Director’s foreword 

2. News

3. Live Frameworks

4. You said. We listened

5. Forward Look

6. Current and upcoming activity 

7. Savings

2. News


Business Travel and Accommodation Customer Engagement Event


CTM Travel event

The NPS announced the award of the Business Travel and Accommodation Solutions Framework in October and immediately received requests from several interested customers for further information. Following this the first Customer Engagement Event with CTM, the NPS Travel Management Company, was arranged and held recently in Bedwas. The event was successfully attended by 8 NPS customer organisations, who met with the CTM Implementation Team, and will now work together to implement this service. This will help customers to access many framework benefits, including: 


-   competitive bookings fees;

-   savings on their business travel spend;

-   greater visibility of their spend in this area;

-   intelligent Management Information reports;

-   industry expertise;

-   enhanced travel policy compliance;

-   a greater duty of care to their travellers.


The NPS are very keen to ensure all customers are given the same opportunity to meet with CTM, and are looking to host further regional events to facilitate this engagement.

Please contact NPSPeopleServices&Utilities@wales.gsi.gov.uk if you wish to discuss the framework further or attend a regional engagement event.


Minister for Finance and Government Business

Showcasing Effective Collaboration in Public Procurement Event

Representatives from across the public sector welcomed Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance and Government Business, to a special event showcasing effective collaboration in public procurement in Cardiff Business School on Thursday 19 November 2015.

The event celebrated collaboration and joint-bidding in public procurement following the publication of a Joint Bidding Guide in 2013. The guide was designed to help Welsh based SMEs and micro firms to identify the benefits of joint bidding (forming consortia) by addressing the challenges of effective collaboration for business growth.

During the event, the success of the guide was evidenced with presentations from a number of Demonstration Projects, whose case studies feature in the newly published 'Lessons Learned Report'. Since 2013, there have been 12 of these projects designed for consortia by public procurement across Wales, including five NPS frameworks.

Joint bidding guides, case studies and useful information for buyers and suppliers, can be found here.

 


3. Live Frameworks


Contract

A list of current NPS Frameworks available for use can be found on our website.

 

 

Customer guidance for each framework can be found within the NPS Section on Sell2Wales.


4. You said. We listened

We are continuing to take feedback from customers and are consistently working to address this. Please find our most recent update below:


Flip chart meeting
© Crown copyright (2014) Visit Wales


You said: "We don't know who's who within the NPS so we are unsure who to contact with our queries"

Our response: We have created an NPS Contacts Directory, with contact details for NPS staff and information on roles and responsibilities. This is available upon request. To request a copy please contact the NPS Communications Officer.


5. Forward Look

To ensure we give both buyers and suppliers as much advance notice of NPS events as possible, we have created the following Forward Look table. Please contact the relevant category mailbox for further information, and remember to keep an eye on the NPS Twitter and LinkedIn pages and Sell2Wales for event announcements.


Supplier Events

Suppliers December Forward Look


Buyer Events

Buyers December Construction Forward LookBuyers December Forward Look 2Buyers December Forward Look FoodDecember Buyers People Services Forward LookBuyers December Professional Services


For further information on the above events, please contact the corresponding category mailbox below:

 

Construction and Facilities Management

Fleet and Transport

Food

Information and Communications Technology

People Services and Utilities

Professional Services


6. Current and upcoming activity by category


There are a number of Prior Information Notices and Contract Notices listed below. All will be advertised through Sell2Wales, however please share this information with as many suppliers as possible if you think they would be interested.

If you would like further information, please contact the relevant team by e-mail.

 

Construction and Facilities Management 

Prior Information Notices 

  • Facilities Management Phase 2 (currently in scope Mechanical Services, Security Services, Fire Fighting Equipment Maintenance, Pest Control) - due to be issued early December.


Upcoming Contract Award Notices


Updates

  • Provision of Electrical, Heating, Plumbing and Associated Materials Framework - the Customer Guidance has been amended to reflect that some of the suppliers will provide deliveries and be servicing from branches of associated company brands. Further information can be found on the NPS Website. Updated Customer Guidance can be found on Sell2Wales.
  • Provision of Cleaning & Janitorial Materials Framework – Two additional documents have been added to the NPS section of Sell2Wales:
    1. A Desktop Analysis Tool for Lot 1 General Materials.  The tool allows customers to quickly compare prices for baskets of products for each supplier.
    2. An additional core list for Lot 2 Bulk Materials is now included. Further information can be found on Sell2Wales.


Contact: NPSConstruction&FM@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Construction and Facilities Management

Corporate and Business Support Services


Contract Notices

 


Contact: NPSCorporateServices@wales.gsi.gov.uk


Fleet and Transport

Fleet and Transport                              

Contract Award Notices 

  • Supply of Tyres and Associated Services - awarded 16 November 2015. This framework comprises of a tyre supply, fitment and repair service, together with all other related activities for Welsh public sector organisations. The existing Tyres Framework (reference VWNPT/892) has been extended until 28 February 2016 to allow time for further competitions and implementation of the new NPS framework. Further guidance will be posted on Sell2Wales.

Call for Competition and Requirements

  • Vehicle Leasing - We are gathering requirements for an all Wales framework. If your organisation has a requirement for vehicle leasing in the next 12 months please contact the mailbox below to obtain a short questionnaire.

  • Vehicle Purchase - We are gathering requirements to aggregate spend and demand and run competition via auctions with Crown Commercial Services (CCS). If your organisation has a requirement for vehicle purchase in the next 12 months please contact the mailbox below for further information.
    These are the key dates for customers to note:
    Customer volume commitment - please let us know by Wednesday 20 January 2016.
    The Live eAuction event takes place on Thursday 25 February 2016. There is a 12 week lead time for delivery.
    We are working closely with CCS and there may be flexibility to schedule an additional event; this is dependent on your requirements and CCS availability. Please contact us.

  • Driver Licence Checking - Due to the change in licence legislation in April 2015 there is an immediate legislative requirement to undertake this for the Welsh Purchasing Consortium. If member organisations have a requirement to annually check drivers licences including Grey Fleet, please contact the mailbox below.

  • Vehicle Spares - We are currently gathering information for vehicle spares from member organisations including local authorities, if you have any requirements please contact the mailbox below.


Contact: NPSFleet@wales.gsi.gov.uk


Food


Contract Notices

  • Prepared Sandwiches and Sandwich Fillings, and Frozen Plated Meals - due to be issued in December.


Updates

  • Prepared Sandwiches and Sandwich Fillings, and Frozen Plated Meals - specification documents have been circulated to the Food Category Forum Group members for comment ahead of the Contract Notice being published. If you wish to provide input into these then please contact us on the mailbox below.


Contact: NPSFood@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Food

Information and Communications Technology


Updates - Call for representatives

  • The NPS ICT Strategy has now been developed. The aim of the strategy is to map out the NPS ICT pipeline to support the ICT requirements across the public sector and to deliver for your business needs in line with Ministerial priorities. We are now seeking volunteers from NPS member organisations to work together to identify which contracts and frameworks the NPS need to prioritise for the next four years. Initial workshops are planned in North and South Wales for February 2016, dates and venues to be confirmed. Closing date for nominations is 31 January 2016. If you are interested in participating, please contact the mailbox below.

 

Contact: NPSICTCategoryTeam@wales.gsi.gov.uk


People Services

People Services and Utilities

 

Prior Information Notices 


Contract Award Notices

  • Managed Service for Employee Benefit Schemes - awarded 7 December 2015. Customers can directly award to the Managed Service Provider and negotiate service charges based on individual requirements. A number of benefit schemes are available including; Salary Sacrifice Schemes, Health and Wellbeing Benefits, Retail and Leisure Discounts, Reward and Recognition Schemes, and an Online Benefits Platform. Customer guidance is available on Sell2Wales.


Contact: NPSPeopleServices&utilities@wales.gsi.gov.uk


Professional Services


Updates

  • Construction Consultancy - we now offer an integrated suite of consultancy advice and guidance covering some 30 disciplines that span Property, Infrastructure and Estates professional services. If you would like one of the Professional Services team to highlight our offering to your organisation please contact the mailbox below. Alternatively you can view the agreements on Sell2Wales.
    We will also be looking to set up a category forum framework management group, and would welcome volunteers from across the Welsh public sector. Please contact Paul Griffiths at the mailbox below if you wish to discuss further.
  • Insurance - a Category Forum sub group has been established to take forward the development of the Invitation to Tender documentation with a meeting being scheduled in January.


Category Forum Groups (CFG) - Call for representatives

    • Business Consultancy – our CFG has developed an exciting strategy to deliver business consultancy needs to the Welsh public sector. This was approved by the NPS Delivery Group in November. We are now taking forward several business consultancy procurement projects to support Education services, alternative delivery model provision and delivering service efficiency. Aside from helping to shape these, we also need support to identify how we can best share internal resource across organisations. We are therefore seeking additional representatives for the CFG, to enable us to deliver on your behalf. Please contact Paul Griffiths, at the mailbox below if you wish to explore further.

     


    Contact: NPSProfessionalServices@wales.gsi.gov.uk


    7. Savings

    NPS is reporting a 4.88% savings rate this financial year against total spend through Contracts and Framework Agreements under management. This includes additional negotiated savings and on-boarded agreements.

    The overall total savings equate to £2,350,020 from 1st April 2015 - 30th September 2015.

    If you require further clarification of these savings, please contact your NPS Sector Representative or your Head of Procurement.


    Iaith Gymraeg

    Os hoffech dderbyn y cylchlythwr hwn drwy'r Gymraeg, neu i ddad-danysgrifio, e-bostiwch: Bethan.Williams13@cymru.gsi.gov.uk

     

    If you would like to receive this newsletter in Welsh, or to unsubscribe, please e-mail: Bethan.Williams13@wales.gsi.gov.uk