1. News
 Pennaf Housing Group sign-up to NPS
The Pennaf Housing Group, which works in partnership with six local
authorities across North and Mid Wales, has become the first social housing
organisation in Wales to formally sign-up to use all of the National
Procurement Service (NPS) Frameworks.
Pennaf, which is based on the Business Park in St Asaph and includes Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and Tŷ Glas Housing Society, manage around 5,900 housing units across the region.
Mark Drakeford, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local
Government, said: “The NPS offers a tremendous opportunity to do things
differently, to engage more collaboratively and set the agenda for the future.
We are delighted to welcome Pennaf, the NPS’ first customer from the social
housing sector. I hope more organisations from the sector follow their example
and join this innovative service.”
David Lewis, Corporate Director Asset Management for Pennaf said: “As a Group
Pennaf is at the forefront of championing new initiatives to secure efficient,
value for money services so that we can continue to invest and grow while
ensuring high quality homes and brilliant services are provided to our
residents and clients.”
“Being part of the National Procurement Service is one of a number of
innovations that the Group has embraced to both identify value for money, and
ensure residents and customers continue to have the best services.”
NPS is currently working with a number of Housing organisations that are in the process of signing-up to use NPS Frameworks. Any Housing organisations that would like to find out more about signing-up, please contact Julie Harrison, Head of Stakeholder and Business
Management.
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Dun & Bradstreet Supplier Portfolio Manager
To support
the on-going category management work within NPS, the Business Intelligence
team ensure that all framework agreement suppliers are classified and matched
through the Dun & Bradstreet Supplier Portfolio Manager. This is an online analysis platform provided free of charge to Welsh public sector buying organisations by ePS (Welsh Government).
The solution provides NPS with up to date intelligence in relation to correct supplier SME
status and supplier risk alerts. The notification
alerts provide added assurance for NPS customers that NPS suppliers showing
negative or positive risk changes are highlighted to the appropriate category
team promptly for action and management. The solution also provides access to company financial reports which can be used in the sourcing and contract management lifecycle.
Further information on the Dun & Bradstreet Supplier Portfolio Manager can be found here.
Procurex Wales - have you registered?
With only 6 weeks to go until the biggest Welsh procurement
conference takes place at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Thursday 6 October
– time is running out to register to attend.
This one-day event is
designed specifically for public and private sector personnel and organisations
engaged within the public procurement marketplace and will be jam packed with
presentations, workshops and exhibitions including
- Live
Keynote arena
- 4 Training
Zones
- A Welsh
Government Pavilion
- Product
showcase exhibition
- Networking
and Support
For further information, please visit www.procurexlive.co.uk/wales
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:
Fleet and Transport
ICT
People Services
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, Facilities Management and Utilities
Upcoming Contract Notices
- Provision of Highways Lighting Products - due to be issued in October/November 2016.
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- Facilities Management Phase 2 consisting of Mechanical Services, Fire Equipment Maintenance, Pest Control Services, Pest Control Supplies and Security Services - due to the national BT internet outage which affected some of the bidders and coincided with the closing date for this tender, the deadline was extended. Therefore, there has been a slight delay and this framework is now due to be awarded late September 2016.
- Purchase of Hand Tools and Small Electrical Equipment - due to be awarded September 2016.
Updates
- The NPS Utilities team has assisted five new customer organisations on their Energy Portfolio consisting of an additional 1,150 new sites.
Contact: NPSConstruction&FM@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 Corporate and Business Support Services
Prior Information Notices
Contract Notices
Updates
- Supply of High Visibility and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Uniforms, Workwear and Leisurewear - the Welsh Purchasing Consortium agreement and associated catalogues have been extended as an interim measure. We are in the process of drafting a new options appraisal and timeline for review by the Category Forum Group and Delivery Group.
- Stationery and Copier Paper - We have already requested nominations for evaluators through the Category Forum Group as further volunteers are ideally required. We are seeking at least four additional evaluators so please contact the mailbox below if you are interested and able to assist. Evaluations are due to begin the week commencing 26 September - 7 October 2016. The framework is due to be awarded in November and go live on 1 December 2016.
- All Wales Printing Services - UK independent office supplies dealer Complete Office Solutions (COS) has acquired Wales based group SET. NPS customers can continue to trade with SET under the NPS framework as it stands currently with no changes.
- 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
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 Fleet and Transport
Updates
- Tyres - our 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. We are now undertaking further competitions on behalf of Gwynedd, Powys, Merthyr and Bridgend Councils.
- Vehicle Hire and Liquid Fuels - a survey has been issued to customers regarding the future provision of the following NPS agreements, which are approaching their first gateway review:
- NPS-FT-0009-15 Supply of Vehicle Hire for Cars & Light Commercial Vehicles (under 3T)
- NPS-FT-0016-15 Supply of Liquid Fuels
If your organisation utilises either or both of these agreements, we are seeking your views on whether to extend in line with the provisions detailed in the framework agreement, or retender.
Customers are asked to complete the relevant survey(s) below by 12pm, Monday 5 September 2016.
- Vehicle Hire Survey
- Liquid Fuels Survey
Following this date, we will utilise the feedback received to make informed decisions regarding the future provision of the above agreements.
- Vehicle Spares - work to develop tender documentation is ongoing with final Category Forum Group (CFG) approval scheduled for 5 September 2016. We are still awaiting remaining customer requirement responses from buying organisations. The options appraisal has been sent to NPS Delivery Group for out of committee approval. 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
Updates
- Following feedback from customers, we have reviewed the nutritional requirements and agreed to adjust our food pipeline to ensure that it meets the needs of all of our customers across all sectors. Customers wishing to view a detailed breakdown of pipeline
amendments, please contact your NPS Sector Representative.
Contact: NPSFood@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 Information and Communications Technology
Contract Award Notices
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- 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 30 September 2016.
Upcoming Contract Notices
- Digitisation, Storage and Disposal - due to be issued early September 2016. Work is ongoing to put in place a Dynamic Purchasing System for supported businesses, with a planned go live date of Autumn 2016.
Updates
- 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. A technical working group will be held on 7 September 2016. As this will be around the specific requirements and technical specifications for the Core Goods list, we are looking for technical experts to volunteer for this session. Please contact the mailbox below for further information.
Contact: NPSICTCategoryTeam@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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People Services
Contract Award Notices
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- Corporate Training, Learning & Development Services – due to go live 1 September 2016.
Updates
-
Employee Benefits
Framework - a new Health Screening Salary Sacrifice Scheme and other
Health related products including Health Cash Plans and Life Insurance are now
available to all customer organisations under the Employee Benefits
Framework. If you would like further information regarding these
schemes please contact Faye Haywood on the mailbox below.
We are looking to hold some
further customer events during October with the Managed Service Provider, iCOM
Works Ltd and their salary sacrifice partners, to present the new Health
portfolio and provide updates on other popular schemes available under the
framework. If you would be interested in attending such an event, please
send your expressions of interest to Faye Haywood on the mailbox below.
Contact: NPSPeopleServices&utilities@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 Professional Services
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- Insurance Support Services - due to be awarded 30 August 2016.
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Updates
- Legal Services by Barristers - we are grateful for the support and guidance provided by the newly constituted Category Forum Group (CFG) that met in Llandrindod Wells on 4 August 2016. The Outcomes Report can be found on the Sell2Wales website. Thanks to the significant contributions made, we remain on schedule to issue the invitation to tender in September 2016.
- Insurance - we have been working to let a number of agreements to support organisations in delivering insurance solutions. The NPS 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 and are seeking the views of our CFG members and the successful providers on the best approach for launch. We can confirm that we will be recording a webinar that will be delivered through the Association of Local Authority Risk Managers (ALARM) later in September 2016, highlighting the agreement and its use.
-
NEC 3 Professional Services Contract Awareness Training - we have secured a number of free training events for public sector colleagues:
- 15
September 2016, Cardiff - Capital Law will be providing an introduction to the
contract, where the key features of commissioning work using this contract
suite will be clearly described
- 12 October 2016, South Wales and 13 October 2016, North Wales -
WSP will be providing a best practice development workshop in the successful
use of the NEC 3 Professional suite. Building on the seminar of 15 September,
the workshops will provide extensive guidance and best practice examples. The
sessions will be delivered over half a day equipping attendees with the
knowledge and skill set to deliver practical solutions through this contract
suite.
Both events will also contribute to CPD across a number of professional
institutes. For further information, please contact the mailbox below.
- Legal Training - suppliers on our Legal Services by Solicitors framework are offering a wide range of training and briefing events. A full schedule can be found online here.
Contact: NPSProfessionalServices@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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4. Savings
NPS is reporting a 2.29% savings rate this financial year against total spend through Contracts and Framework Agreements under management. This includes on-boarded agreements.
The overall total savings equate to £363, 492 from 1st April 2016 – 31st May 2016.
If you require further clarification of these savings, please contact your NPS Sector Representative
or your Head of Procurement.
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5. Staffing update
Katie Wilson, Head of Food Category
in the NPS, will be leaving the organisation at the end of September. Mark
Grant will be the interim contact in the Food Category.
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