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Welcome to the NAG and SOPO newsletter for 12 June 2020. Feel free to circulate to your colleagues.
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Procurement Policy Note (PPN 04/20) Recovery and Transition from COVID-19
The Cabinet Office has published a new Procurement Policy Note (PPN 04/20) on recovery and transition from COVID-19. The LGA and the National Advisory Group (NAG) for Procurement worked closely with central government colleagues to draft this new procurement guidance that takes us beyond the end of June and into the next steps of recovery and transition.
Supplier Relief
Councils should now start to plan with their suppliers how to exit any supplier relief and transition to a new, sustainable, operating model. Councils will need to work with their suppliers in partnership during this transition so that contracts are sustainable and value for money over the medium to long term.
Councils should start to review their contract portfolio and determine whether it is still appropriate to provide the supplier relief measures set out in PPN 02/20 in order to secure continuity of supply for critical services, whilst also consider suppliers of critical services who may not previously have requested relief but may require it going forward.
Transition Planning
Where councils have made continuity and retention arrangements with suppliers councils should now work with those suppliers to develop a transition plan ready to be implemented as soon as possible and before the end of October 2020.
This transition plan should be agreed by both parties and should include an exit date for when supplier relief will end; when any outstanding goods or services are to be delivered; a reconciliation plan; and a contract assessment to assess whether, as a result of COVID-19, the contract is still operationally relevant and viable. In some instances, councils may decide that a contract is no longer relevant or viable and it may be necessary to terminate the contract.
To support the implementation of PPN/04, the LGA will be running webinars in the coming weeks and an accompanying FAQ section is already under development, if you have any issues or queries on implementation or application of this PPN please contact the LGA COVID-19 Supply Chain team at Productivity@local.gov.uk
Personal protective equipment
Last week saw two announcements increasing the use of face coverings which included requirements for all staff and visitors to wear face coverings in hospital and face coverings becoming mandatory to anyone using public transport. We are aware that whilst PPE supplies have improved, they are still very real concerns about the sustainable supply of PPE for our workforces. It remains critical that medical grade PPE is prioritised for staff and that these recent announcements do not put additional pressure on the critical supply of PPE to the workforce.
New information has been released on the online PPE portal, detailing who can use it and when it should be used. The portal is now only operating as an emergency top up system with users being invited to register and limited to one order per week. This is disappointing as originally the portal was suggested as forming a key element of the PPE supply route. We have fed back your concerns to the Government and continue to lobby for them to ensure that there is a robust and sustainable supply of PPE.
Adult social care
DHSC has published guidance to help people who buy care and support through a direct payment to know how and when they can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough employees during the coronavirus outbreak. The guidance includes examples of when direct payment holders may or may not choose to use the scheme.
COVID-19: adult social care commissioning practice resource
The LGA have launched a resource sharing examples of innovative local commissioning activity which support the wider adult social care COVID-19 response and the provider market online. This resource shares short snapshots of local commissioning activity within the following themes:
- Creating extra or different provision
- Financial pressures
- PPE
- Provider engagement
- Partnership working
- Innovation and new approaches
This resource will be updated regularly based upon input from councils and partners. To share examples of commissioning approaches and care provider support please contact ADASS.LGA.COVID@local.gov.uk
OFSTED Inspections
OFSTED has sent many of its inspectors back to the frontline, so it is more important than ever that we continue to collaborate and share information in order to ensure our children and young people are safe.
CCRAG has developed a virtual monitoring form for Fostering and Residential along with a user guide. The form can be used in conjunction with the CCRAG risk assessment and forms completed for any services deemed to be red or amber.
CCRAG also suggest that local authorities look at adopting the approach of supporting providers that sit within their boundaries, regardless of whether they have children placed with them.
Reopening high streets
An FAQ document has been added to the guidance to help councils and partners to deliver activities supported through the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund. This provides £50 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to councils across England to support the safe reopening of high streets and other commercial areas.
Non COVID-19 stories
Procurement fraud
Earlier in the week MHCLG published its review into risks of fraud and corruption in local government procurement. The LGA worked closely with MHCLG on the review and we’re pleased so many councils got involved in the research, the workshops and the case studies and provided a lot of best practice, which made it such a comprehensive report. The review sets out practical examples and case studies showcasing how councils can strengthen their processes and implement prevention measures. The annex section provides councils with an extensive range of tools and resources including a risk matrix tool, checklists, templates etc. This report complements our Counter Fraud Hub and we will aim to adapt and implement the recommendations through our sector-led improvement workstreams.
Webinars/e-Learning
CIPFA Complex Procurements - Future of Development Agreements, Framework Agreements & Contract Modifications Post COVID-19
16 June 2020
Decarbonising transport: LGA webinar on decarbonising transport after COVID-19
18 June 2020 | 10:30-11:45am
LGA Greening procurement webinar - online workshop on the climate emergency and how local government and businesses can work together on meeting local carbon reduction goals
24 June 2020
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