1. News
Category Forum Groups -
Your opportunity to get involved
© Crown copyright
Would
you like to help shape future procurement strategies for Wales? The NPS is
always looking for customer representatives to be part of Category Forum Groups
(CFGs).
For
each procurement exercise that the NPS is responsible for, a CFG of customer
representatives is formed to focus on that specific area of work. Whilst NPS
and procurement colleagues from across the Welsh public sector provide
procurement expertise; technical expertise and knowledge is always appreciated.
The
role of CFG members is to attend a minimum of one CFG meeting (but could be
more if there is complexity in the procurement).
Being
a member of the CFG enables you to:
- consider
the suppliers in the market and decide the optimum way to structure a
procurement
- influence
the specification to ensure customer organisations’ needs are met
- think
innovatively and consider different ways of delivery
- be
formally involved in evaluating the suppliers
Successful team
work is essential, and the CFG concept has a proven track record. For
example, the Fleet CFGs are all comprised of fleet professionals from across the
Welsh public sector, with an interest in the specific commodity being procured.
The collaborative structure has been highly successful, with examples of this
standard approach applied across NPS Vehicle Hire, Fuel Cards and Liquid Fuels. These frameworks are reporting average
savings of 2.50%, 7.70% and 3.64% respectively for 2015/16.
When a
new CFG is being set-up, NPS always asks sector representatives who sit on the
NPS Delivery Group to provide names of people who wish to be involved. Alternatively,
NPS are always keen to hear from individuals within customer organisations that
would be interested in being a CFG member.
If you
have technical skills that you feel would benefit a CFG, and are interested in
being involved, then please contact NationalProcurementService@wales.gsi.gov.uk to discuss with us. Outcome Reports from previous CFG meetings can be found on Sell2Wales and a selection of upcoming CFG meetings can be found in the 'Forward Look' section below.
GO Awards Wales – last chance to enter!
Have you submitted your nominations for
the GO Awards Wales?
If not – there is only one week left to register and submit your entry at www.goawards.co.uk/wales
The inaugural GO Awards will take place at the Marriott Hotel in Cardiff on 6 October 2016 and are open to public, private and third sector
organisations. There are 8 categories to choose from:
- GO Sustainability featuring Community Benefits & Joint
Bidding Award
- GO Collaboration Award
- GO Best Service Award
- GO Innovation or Initiative of the Year Award
- GO Procurement Team of the Year Award
- GO Young Person of the Year Award
- GO Procurement Leadership of the Year Award
- GO Procurement Contribution of the Year Award
Nominations will close at 5pm on Monday 8 August.
For more information please visit www.goawards.co.uk/wales
As part of Wales’ Day of Procurement on
Thursday 6 October, the GO Awards Wales will be held on the evening of Procurex Wales Live 2016, which takes place earlier that day at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena. With over 1000 delegates and 70 exhibitors already
registered – this year's event is set to be bigger and better. Find out more at: www.procurexwales.co.uk
NPS Collaborative Spend Analysis
NPS has been working with Welsh public sector customers to
implement the Atamis Spend Analysis system across participating organisations over the last year.
The system provides opportunity for customers to access their own
local information for spend analysis benefits, and undertake dynamic dashboard
reporting. Providing accurate and detailed reports, it eases the burden of
working with labour-intensive spreadsheets of data.
To date, 49 organisations have received training on the system, with
work to continue during 2016-17 as the exercise finalises roll-out across NPS customer
organisations. Customer feedback regarding its use has been very positive and the NPS are grateful for the enthusiasm and commitment from customers.
Access to up-to-date supplier and category level data is crucial for NPS to help in the delivery of collaborative procurement work, savings and
strategies for NPS customers. It is also of use to Value Wales in demonstrating adherence to the wider principles of the Wales
Procurement Policy.
If you are an NPS member customer, then your organisation has access to this system. For further information on the Atamis Spend Analysis system,
please contact either your procurement team or the NPS Head of Business Intelligence Mark.Gwilym@wales.gsi.gov.uk.
NPS Contacts Directory
We have recently updated the electronic NPS Contacts Directory and copies are now available on request.
The Directory provides a breakdown of NPS staff working across the seven categories, along with details of their specific areas of work. It has been designed to assist customers in contacting NPS with enquiries.
Please contact Bethan.Williams13@wales.gsi.gov.uk to request a copy.
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End of Year Savings
NPS is reporting 8.70% total savings rate for 2015-16 financial year against total spend.
The total saving is against reported usage of Contracts and Framework Agreements under management. This incorporates additional process efficiency savings and the benefits from on-boarded agreements.
The overall total savings are £9,811,057 from 1st April 2015 - 31st March 2016.
If you require further clarification of these savings, please contact your NPS Sector Representative or Head of Procurement.
Changes
to the NPS Newsletter
Our communications team is currently reviewing the way we
communicate with you across NPS and Value Wales.
We will be issuing a survey within the next few months, and would be keen to hear from you on what
aspects of the NPS Newsletter and Value Wales bulletins you like, and where you
think improvements could be made. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please contact Bethan.Williams13@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Survey - Sustainable Procurement Practices in Wales
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has developed a short survey to help
identify the public sector’s current Sustainable Procurement activities across
Wales and support development of the Waste and Resource Efficiency Plan.
The survey is relevant to those with decision making responsibilities and influence around the procurement of
goods and services within public sector organisations. The results will be used to help
identify and tailor materials, such as tools and guidance, to support public
sector organisations in developing their approach to sustainable
procurement.
The short survey can be found here and closes on 31 August 2016.
If you
have any queries please contact Susan Jay on 07711
199964 or Alice Tolley on 07712
852013.
2. Forward Look
To ensure we give 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.
Buyer events
For further information on the above events, please contact the
corresponding category mailbox below:
Construction and Facilities
Management
Fleet and Transport
Food
People Services
and Utilities
Professional Services
3. Current and upcoming activity by category
There are a number of 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
Upcoming Contract Notices
- Provision of Highways Lighting Products - due to be issued in October 2016.
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- Facilities Management Phase 2 - due to be awarded late August 2016.
- Purchase of Hand Tools and Small Electrical Equipment - due to be awarded 1 September 2016.
Category Forum Group Outcome Reports
Contact: NPSConstruction&FM@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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Corporate and Business Support Services
Contract Award Notices
Updates
- Supply of High Visibility and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Uniforms, Workwear and Leisurewear - due to unforeseen circumstances the awarding of the previous framework has been withdrawn. Following feedback from suppliers, we intend to begin a new procurement exercise to establish a framework in September 2016. We are currently meeting with tenderers to gather feedback on the previous process to help shape the next tender exercise. To cover supply during the retendering process, we have extended the existing Welsh Purchasing Consortium agreement for Supply of Protective Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment to 31 December 2016. All associated Basware catalogues will be updated.
- NPS All Wales Framework for Stationery and Copier Paper - the previous published timeline for award will be extended from September 2016 to November 2016. For customers currently using the bridging arrangement with Banner, please note that this agreement has been extended to cover supply between 14 July 2016 and the award of the new agreement. The associated Basware catalogues have been extended to reflect this.
- Media Agency Framework - we are looking to establish a Category Forum Group for the renewal of this framework. Please contact the mailbox below if you would like to be involved, or have any feedback on the existing agreement.
Contact: NPSCorporateServices@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 Fleet and Transport
Updates
- Tyres - NPS' coordination of collaborative mini-competitions has continued, with very positive feedback received from customers regarding savings made to-date. Phase 1 of the mini-competitions ended on 30 June 2016. Any customer organisations that have not yet confirmed intention to utilise the framework, please contact the mailbox below as soon as possible.
- Fuel Cards and Liquid Fuels - a survey will shortly be issued to customers regarding the future provision of the framework.
- Vehicle Spares - work to develop documentation is ongoing. The aim of the next Category Forum Group (CFG) will be to sign off the specification and evaluation criteria. The Options Appraisal has been agreed with the CFG and will be sent to NPS Delivery Group for out of committee approval during August. The project is on schedule for publishing the invitation to tender in September 2016, with award planned in December 2016, and the framework due to go live in January 2017.
- We will be issuing a category survey in September, giving customers the opportunity to provide feedback to shape the future Fleet Pipeline. Further details will be issued in due course.
Contact: NPSFleet@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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Food
Upcoming Contract Notices
- Soft Drinks, Crisps, Snacks and Confectionary - due to be issued early August 2016.
- Provisions (Groceries, Provisions and Frozen Foods) - tender documentation is currently being drafted ready for final comments and approval by Category Forum Group members.
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- 'Prepared Sandwiches and Sandwich Fillings' and 'Frozen Plated Meals' - we are currently in the final stages of evaluation and moderation, with the frameworks due to be awarded in early August 2016.
Updates
- Frozen Plated Meals sampling events were held on 2, 3 and 14 July in North and South Wales. Many thanks to all volunteers who attended the events.
- There has been a change of venue for the South Wales Food Safety meeting on Thursday 4 August 2016. This meeting will now be held at the Waterton Centre, Bridgend. Please contact the mailbox below if you would like to attend.
Contact: NPSFood@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 Information and Communications Technology
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- Structured Cabling Services - due to go live 1 August 2016.
- Information Assurance Services - the tender closed for submissions on 20 June 2016. Evaluation of tenders is now underway with a planned go live date of 19 September 2016.
Updates
- Digitisation, Storage and Disposal - work is ongoing to put in place a Dynamic Purchasing System for supported businesses, with a planned go live date of Autumn 2016.
- Multifunctional Devices and Internal Managed Print Services - work is ongoing to scope the potential framework. A well-attended Category Forum Group meeting was held on 14 July 2016. The decision to proceed with this procurement will be subject to NPS Delivery Group approval.
- NPS ICT Pipeline Phase 2 - thank you to everyone who responded to the ICT Pipeline survey. Feedback is currently being reviewed and we have also been approached by several organisations with requests to focus on specific themes going forward. Themes requested are Digital Services, Additional Infrastructure Services, Business Applications, and Commodity ICT. This information has now been used to create a high level phase 2 ICT pipeline. This pipeline will be shared with various ICT Manager Groups for feedback, to ensure that we are focusing on the right priorities going forward. Please note the final procurements will be subject to NPS Delivery Group approval.
Contact: NPSICTCategoryTeam@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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People Services and Utilities
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
-
Provision of Waste Disposal Bags - evaluations are now complete, but there have been slight delays due to third party independent testing laboratories. The framework is now due to go live in August 2016.
- Corporate Training, Learning & Development Services – the consensus meeting took place on 20 July, and the framework is due to be awarded late August and go live 1 September 2016.
Updates
- Welsh Language Training Framework Agreement - a Category Forum Group meeting took place on 21 July, with representation from the New National Centre for Learning Welsh who provided an update on their role and services to the Welsh public sector.
- Occupational Health and Associated Services - the Employee Assistance Programme has now moved into the next price break for their services, with a further cost reduction per head. We now cover over 60,000+ of Welsh public sector staff.
Contact: NPSPeopleServices&utilities@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 Professional Services
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- Insurance Support Services - due to be awarded in August 2016.
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Updates
- Legal Services by Barristers - we have been very grateful for the opportunities provided by Welsh public sector colleagues to discuss our model, and also for those that have volunteered to join our revitalised Category Forum Group (CFG). Your feedback, observations and advice has led to the development of a new procurement model based upon flexibility of use, dynamic refreshes and full visibility of barristers' pricing with further negotiation options built in. The CFG will meet soon to provide final comment before we commence the tender exercise in September 2016.
- Education Consultancy - a lack of demand for this area of consultancy has resulted in the decision to end activity of this project.
- Alternative Delivery Models Consultancy - following the publication of a Prior Information Notice in June 2016, we are actively engaging the market to confirm our final option for delivering this key advisory service.
- Insurance - we have been working to let a number of agreements to support organisations in delivering insurance solutions. Our Insurance Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) will be an evolving resource that will contain insurance policy providers for all your insurance needs. In tandem, our Insurance Support Services framework will allow customers to access insurance brokerage and risk management services, insurance litigation specialists and claims handling expertise. We will be launching both the Insurance DPS and Insurance Support Services frameworks in September 2016. A Category Forum Group meeting will take place on 17 August 2016 to assess delivery and to plan the next steps.
Contact: NPSProfessionalServices@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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