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Procurement Act 2023 templates
The Cabinet Office are working on a series of templates which are due to be released at the end of summer. Members of the LGA’s National Advisory Group (NAG) will be involved with the development and design of these to ensure they are council-friendly when they are published. The templates will include:
- pre-procurement checklist
- conflict of interest declaration
- sourcing strategy
- conflicts assessment
- ITT – competitive flexible procedure and tender assessment
- direct award justification
- contract award.
Sustainability Action Learning Sets: Sustainable procurement series
Our Sustainability Action Learning Sets are open to all council officers in England to provide a safe space for officers to reflect, exchange and curate knowledge around delivery projects. The second series will focus specifically on procurement challenges facing councils delivering their sustainability targets.
Councils are encouraged to participate with both a sustainability and procurement officer. The sets will be made up of a maximum of six council project teams and facilitated by the LGA. Book onto a Sustainable Procurement Action Learning Set now!
Book for Cohort 1
- session 1: 5 November 2024
- session 2: 26 November 2024
- session 3: 10 December 2024.
Book for Cohort 2
- session 1: 7 November 2024
- session 2: 28 November 2024
- session 3: 12 December 2024.
Crown Commercial Service: Microsoft winter 2024-25 aggregation call for interest
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) run three aggregations per year for Microsoft licenses, helping customers to save on average between 2 to 3.5 per cent compared to market pricing.
The next aggregation will be their Winter 2024 event. This will be National Further Competition (NFC)180 and will suit customers with Microsoft enrolments due between end December 2024 to 01 April 2025. Intended dates for NFC180 are:
- 6 September 2024 - deadline for customers to send in requirements
- from end September 2024 - procurement
- mid November 2024 – award.
Their Microsoft aggregation video helps explain the Microsoft pricing structure and the process we will follow. Please register your interest by completing the form on the event page.
Crown Commercial Service buyer feedback sessions
These virtual events aim to bring together representatives from across local communities and housing organisations to provide feedback on current and future CCS procurement initiatives in their category groups.
This includes new agreements, services, and digital products. This feedback session will help CCS engage with LC&H buyers to ensure that the products and services we offer continue to meet the needs of the sector.
- The first session is on 30 July focusing on technology.
- The second session is on 20 August focusing on estates categories (construction, energy).
- The third session is on 17 September and is for buyers of Corporate Services (financial services, consultancy, temporary labour, fleet).
EV Charging: Public Sector Market Report
As the UK looks to become a Net Zero society, councils will need to ramp up procurement of EV Charging infrastructure. Having a proper understanding of opportunities and how the market operates, including the dilemmas faced by procurement and commissioning teams.
This Tussell report gives you the intelligence you need to get ahead in this multi-billion pound market by providing an understanding of the scope and size of contract opportunities, who is buying these services and how deals are being structured, contract values and estimated unit prices for different charging technologies.
Policy statement on onshore wind
The government has announced that it is immediately removing the de facto ban on onshore wind in England and published a policy statement making revisions to planning policy. This will place onshore wind on the same footing as other energy development in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The changes take effect today and will be reflected in the forthcoming NPPF update.
Public Sector Retrofit Forum
Local Partnerships has established a Public Sector Retrofit Forum, which will next meet virtually on 23 July 2024. The forum aims to share best practices in project development, procurement, and contract management for energy and carbon performance retrofit projects.
Exclusively for public sector organisations, the forum addresses technical and commercial themes nominated by its members. To join, contact tony.lawson@localpartnerships.gov.uk or email refit@localpartnerships.gov.uk.
Kent County Council Vacancy: Senior Commercial and Procurement Officer
A Senior Commercial and Procurement Officer, within Place Category, Commercial and Procurement Division vacancy is available. Find out more information and application details.
Housing with support pipeline for people with a learning disability and autistic people
We've created a new guide for councils on how to develop a housing with support pipeline for people with a learning disability and autistic people. Drawing on case studies from local councils, this framework provides practical advice for adult social care commissioners and council housing departments, as well as health commissioners and integrated care boards on developing inclusive housing.
It underscores the importance of engaging with people who have a learning disability and autistic people, to understand their preferred types of accommodation.
16 July Building Centre, 26 Store Street, London, WC1E 7BT | In person
Webinars throughout July – November | Virtual
15 -17 October 2024 | In person/Virtual
19 November 2024 | Novotel London West
27 - 29 November 2024 | Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) Liverpool
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The LGA's membership magazine, 'first', is delivered free each month to just under 17,000 councillors and local authority chief executives. Access first online to browse all news articles, features and opinion pieces, including those from past issues.
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