1. News
 NPS Employee Benefits Framework
Since the launch of the NPS Employee Benefits framework in December 2015, over 30 organisations across Wales have engaged with the Managed Service Provider iCOM Works Ltd and their framework partners. A number of customers have already implemented, or are in the process of implementing schemes through the framework over the coming months. Feedback received to date has been extremely positive, with many commenting on the wide product range and price.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) recently launched a branded benefits HUB, a retail and lifestyle discounts package, Cycle to Work and Childcare Voucher Schemes.
Bethan Williams, Wellbeing Advisor at NRW said of the schemes available under the NPS framework, "The availability of the benefits package to our staff has been a success and allowed them to access considerable savings on purchases. This has been much welcomed by staff in our organisation. We would recommend that other public sector organisations in Wales look to make such benefits available to their staff and would recommend working with iCom who have offered a great level of service and support throughout the whole launch preparation process for our new benefits hub - NRW Rewards."
Swansea University have also implemented a number of solutions through the programme "Our Uni Rewards", which offers a retail and lifestyle discounts package, a Green Car salary sacrifice scheme and a Cycle to work scheme. These solutions coupled with a range of internal employee benefits already in place, have been built into a fully accessible employee benefits HUB that employees can access at any time of day.
iCOM Works Ltd can provide access to a number of different employee benefit schemes for customers. Through the retail and lifestyle discounts package, staff in organisations are enjoying substantial savings on a wide range of everyday items. This coupled with the savings available via the various salary sacrifice schemes on offer, ensure there are benefits available for everyone. Example savings that can be made through the various schemes on offer can be found below:
Day-day Average Savings per annum:
Groceries: £240
Household and Car Insurance: £160
Holidays: £100
Eating Out: £150
Local High Street: £150
Over £1,500 per annum Typical Salary Sacrifice Savings:
New Green Car Scheme
Home & Personal Technology
Childcare Vouchers
Cycle-to-Work
Further information and contact details should NPS customer organisations wish to discuss the opportunities available, can be found on the Sell2Wales website: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Authority/Resources/Resources.aspx?ID=&Type=8163&Path=11756-8163
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Significant savings to be made on Waste Disposal Bags
In August, a framework for waste disposal bags which offers savings
of up to 23.5% was awarded.
The framework was awarded by the People Services Team
and is currently broken into five lots to meet the different needs of
customers:
- LOT 1: Domestic & Commercial Refuse Bags
- LOT 2: Recycling Bags
- LOT 3: Compostable Liners
- LOT 5: Miscellaneous Waste Bags
- LOT 6: Low Density Polythene Aprons
Lot 4 - Clinical Waste Bags, was not awarded as part of this framework due to adjustments required in the specification. This is due to be awarded as a separate framework in December, and go live in February, and will predominantly be used by the Health sector.
Potential savings figures below have been determined using existing average
prices across a number of suppliers, in comparison to the supplier ranked first
in each lot within the NPS framework, who in turn offered the most competitive
pricing.
All successful suppliers had to pass product testing which mirrored the use of the bags at home. This was done in partnership with the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association, West Yorkshire Materials Testing Laboratory and Bangor University.
NPS is grateful to the Category Forum Group (CFG) and Evaluation Panel members, who helped to deliver the framework, and is keen to continue to work with the CFG and other customers to explore future benefits around product standardisation and further savings this can achieve.
Thank you also to Newport City Council, with whom NPS met to establish some background and understanding into the work undertaken on the previous WPC framework.
Further details on the framework, including customer guidance can be found on Sell2Wales: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Authority/Resources/Resources.aspx?ID=&Type=10960&Path=11756-10960
For further queries, please contact: NPSPeopleServices&Utilities@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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The Notices provide key information when a new framework goes
live, including supplier details, lotting structures and links to full customer
guidance.
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accessing your user preferences, and selecting ‘Notices of Award’.
Communication and Marketing Framework
The Welsh Government Communication and Marketing Framework C118-2013-14 was awarded on 27 May 2015 for a period of three years, and is available for NPS customers to use.
The framework offers solutions for a number of communications and marketing services, including: Graphic Design; Digital Marketing; DVD, Video and Filming; 3D Animation; Event Management; AV Services; Portable Equipment and Banners.
Further information on the framework, including full details of the services on offer under each Lot can be found on Sell2Wales:
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Authority/Resources/Resources.aspx?ID=&Type=6580&Path=11755-13065-6580
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.
Forward Look at events:
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
Category Forum Group Outcome Reports
Updates
- Utilities - between now and April 2017, we will be undertaking work on Meter Operator Services and LPG. We will be in touch with all relevant parties over the next month. If you have any Utilities specific queries, please contact NPSUtilities@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 Corporate and Business Support Services
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- Stationery and Copier Paper - this framework is currently under evaluation and due to be awarded in December, subject to 10 day standstill period. The framework is due to go live in mid January, following a four week implementation period to build the core list catalogue on the Basware system.
Updates
- Supply of Office Copier, Digital Printing and Offset Paper - with the end of the initial two year period approaching in January 2017, we are working with suppliers to extend existing arrangements for a 12 month period, as outlined in the contract timescales. If customers have any queries, please contact the mailbox below.
- Supply of High Visibility and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Uniforms, Workwear and Leisurewear - we are in the process of scheduling a supplier day to engage with the market. For further information, please contact the mailbox below.
- Media Agency Framework - NPS continues to engage with customers and suppliers, and the Options Appraisal for this framework is due to be presented to the NPS Delivery Group in the New Year.
Contact: NPSCorporateServices@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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 Fleet and Transport
Prior Information Notices
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
- Vehicle Spares - tenders are currently being evaluated. Due diligence checks are currently being undertaken, with the framework due to be awarded in December 2016, and go live in early January 2017.
Updates
- Vehicle Hire - following customer feedback, the current NPS Vehicle Hire framework for Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) under 3.5Tonnes will not be extended at the price break point in April 2017. A decision has been made to retender this commodity. The intention is to split Cars and LCVs into two distinct and separate lots in order to increase the number of suppliers. The current framework for Specialist Vehicle Hire let by the WPC and led by Newport City Council expires on 1 May 2017 and will form part of the vehicle hire retender as a separate lot. The new NPS agreement is due to go live in May 2017.
- Vehicle Hire re-tender - the first meeting of the Category Forum Group (CFG) - the first meeting of the CFG was held on 10 November 2016 and two supplier events were held on 21 and 22 November in North and South Wales, both of which received positive feedback in relation to the proposed strategy. The Options Appraisal has been agreed by the CFG members, and will be presented to NPS Delivery Group shortly for approval. Meanwhile, requirements documents are being prepared for circulation to the CFG members for comment in December.
- Liquid Fuels - a 12 month extension will be utilised for this framework (new expiry date 07/04/2018) with a price review being undertaken with all suppliers on the framework, from February 2017.
- Driver Licence Checks - this project is currently on hold and the Fleet Pipeline has been amended to reflect this.
- Fuel Cards - NPS ran a further competition under the CCS framework for Fuel Cards. Adoption of this supplier under the NPS mini-competition offers an opportunity for customers to access:
- No transaction fees
- Platts pricing instead of Pump prices
- No card fees for the first 12 months and then £6 per card
- Multiple card options can be offered under one consolidated invoice to increase coverage
Any customers interested in participating, please contact the Fleet mailbox below.
- NPS Fleet Annual Survey - in order to reach the widest possible customer base, we have re-opened the Fleet Annual Survey. Any customer that has not previously responded, please contact the team on the mailbox below to obtain a copy. This will help forecast the future NPS pipeline of work and identify priority areas for the Welsh public sector.
Contact: NPSFleet@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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Food
Contract Award Notices
Prior Information Notices
Contact: NPSFood@wales.gsi.gov.uk
 Information and Communications Technology
Contract Award Notices
Updates
- Supply of Multifunctional Devices and Associated Goods and Services - the tender has now closed, with evaluations due to be completed prior to the Christmas break. We are still seeking technical experts to form the evaluation panel and if you are willing to assist, please contact the ICT mailbox below. The framework is due to be awarded the week commencing 16 January 2017.
- Student Information Management Framework - work has commenced to look at the requirements for this framework. If you would like to be involved or want to find out more please contact the ICT mailbox below.
- Meet the Buyer/Supplier events - We are actively thinking about the second set of these events for North and South Wales, following our initial events in April 2016. These are planned for mid 2017. Over the coming months we will be asking for any suggestions or ideas that you may have to help make next year's events a success.
- IT Products and Services (ITPS)
- We have been working closely with ITPS framework suppliers, to ensure supplier catalogues are available and up to date. ITPS double punch-out catalogues are now available via Basware. Customers requiring access to the e-catalogues will need to add individual supplier catalogues in the 'View' section of Basware's Product Manager.
- The second set of ITPS supplier review meetings have now been completed. All aspects of supplier performance, including results from the recently completed Customer Satisfaction Survey, were discussed with the ITPS suppliers at these meetings.
- Structured Cabling Services - this framework has been live since 1 August 2016, providing a compliant route to market for a range of network, telecom backbone and fibre optic cabling goods and services. Customer guidance is available on Sell2Wales: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Authority/Resources/Resources.aspx?ID=&Type=10720&Path=11764-10720
- All Wales Telephony Framework (fixed line, VoIP, Mobile and Unified Comms) - scoping has commenced. If you wish to be involved in the process or would like further information, please contact the ICT mailbox below.
Contact: NPSICTCategoryTeam@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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 Professional Services
Upcoming Contract Award Notices
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Upcoming Contract Notices
- Home Energy Efficiency Improvements and Advice, Warm Wales Programme - the Contract Notice for Phase 1, the Area based scheme manager frameworks, is due to be issued during December 2016. The Contract Notice for Phase 2, the demand led scheme manager will be issued in February 2017.
- South West Wales Local Authority Engineering Consultancy Framework - the Contract Notice is due to be issued in early January 2017.
Category Forum Groups Outcomes Report
Updates
- A number of customer and supplier engagement activity has taken place throughout November, to support the NPS Professional Services current procurement programme. These include:
- Legal Services by Barristers awareness sessions, with engagement from over 20 chambers. In addition, eTender guidance documents have been shared with all chambers and barristers on our expression of interest listing.
- Warm Wales Programme events in North and South Wales. Customer events saw a positive and open sharing of ideas and suggestions. Over 45 were in attendance at market engagement events held in North and South Wales, offering critical market insight as to the planned procurement programme.
- South West Wales Engineering Consultancy market information day, which was held in Llanelli with over 50 attendees from across the supply sector. Presentations were provided by the NPS and Carmarthen County Council, followed by a vibrant question and answer session, and an opportunity for supplier networking to support potential collaborative bidding. NPS also gathered further feedback on the proposed procurement model. Thank you to the team at Carmarthenshire County Council for a superbly organised and highly informative event.
For further information on any of the events above, 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. NPS is currently refreshing the events and schedules for next year. The full current schedule can be found online here.
Contact: NPSProfessionalServices@wales.gsi.gov.uk
4. Savings
NPS is reporting a 3.34% 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 £1,944,872 from 1st April 2016 – 31st September 2016.
If you require further clarification of these savings, please contact your NPS Sector Representative or your Head of Procurement.
No NPS Newsletter next month
Due to the Christmas break, there will not be an NPS Newsletter issued in the month of December. The next newsletter is due to be issued late January 2017.
In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact the NPS mailbox on NationalProcurementService@wales.gsi.gov.uk
We hope you all enjoy the Christmas break!
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