 Refocus of NPS and Value Wales
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Professor Mark Drakeford AM, has issued a Written Statement to the National Assembly announcing his intention to refocus the National Procurement Service and Value Wales within the Welsh Government. We will take this work forward in collaboration with public sector partners.
We need to work differently if we are collectively to achieve greater cash savings, support a more prosperous and secure economy and help our customers comply with Welsh policy and legislation.
Our customers want us to work differently. The pressures on public service budgets and the outcome of the EU Referendum demand that we work differently. The new Welsh Government Strategy: Prosperity for All seeks to better direct the energy and resources of the whole public service and says, “This will involve a radically different way of working.” Underpinning all of this, the Well-being of Future Generations Act demands that we work differently.
We will take forward this work through a Programme for Procurement. The Programme will work from an understanding of procurement drivers and by maximising insights into our customers. We need to know our influence – in particular the spend - and work out what we can contribute by applying the five ways of working specified by the Well-being of Future Generations Act. We will test our structures against the demands made of us by the Programme and we then need to focus on delivery.
The full Written Statement is available here.
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Have you submitted your entry for the Go Awards Wales?
Do you work in procurement and want to be recognised for good practice on a recent project?
The GO Awards are your chance to celebrate procurement excellence and network with some of the most influential buyers and suppliers in the UK.
The GO Awards are open to public, private and third sector organisations and are free to enter. They will take place on 9 November 2017 at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel.
There are eight categories to choose from, including the GO Infrastructure Project of the Year Award and the GO Sustainable Procurement Award – all categories reflect the country’s ever-changing procurement landscape.
For a full list of this year’s categories, please click here.
Entries close on Tuesday 26 September, so make sure you don’t miss the deadline and submit your entry today.
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Draft
5 year pipeline being developed
We are working on a new 5 year pipeline for future
category activity. Our initial thoughts on what the pipeline will include were
shared with our Delivery Group on the 7 September.
Our first draft is now with all Delivery Group members
for their comments and consultation within the sector which we will use to help
us to develop the pipeline. We have asked the group to consider the following:
- Is the pipeline useful?
- Does the pipeline cover the right frameworks?
- Are there any titles not there which should be
included to help you?
- Are they content with the timelines we’re
proposing?
- Is there anyone else we should ask when
developing this?
If any customer would like to see the draft and have an
opportunity to comment please either contact your sector representative or
email NPSDeliveryGroupMailbox@gov.wales
by 6 October. The draft will be discussed again at the next Delivery
Group meeting on 25 October.
 Are you coming to Procurex?
It’s less than 2 months until Wales’ Festival of Procurement, featuring Procurex Wales and GO Awards Wales and taking place on 9 November. The agendas are now confirmed and available on the website, so take a moment to review the fantastic list of sessions available to attendees at Procurex Wales.
The Keynote Arena will be chaired by Sue Moffatt, Commercial Director, Welsh Government and Director, National Procurement Service. Speakers already confirmed include Mark Drakeford AM, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and Julie James AM, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology.
Registration is open, and Procurex Wales is free to attend for public and third sector personnel. Don’t miss out on Wales’ premier day of procurement education and networking – register today.
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Job Opportunities
Cardiff Council’s award winning Commissioning and
Procurement Team is looking to recruit three Senior Category Specialists.
For further details on these exciting opportunities then please go to https://jobs.cardiff.gov.uk/
and click on Commissioning and Procurement. If you have any queries
relating to these posts or the application process then please contact Dean
Corbisiero on 029 2087 2270. The closing date for applications in 9
October 2017.
List of Live
Frameworks
The list of NPS
Frameworks available for use has been updated to reflect recently awarded
frameworks. It can be found on our website.
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
Frameworks due to be awarded:
The Framework for the Provision of Highway Lighting Materials is currently under evaluation and is due to be awarded by the end of September. All Framework Guidance documentation will be available on Sell2Wales after award.
Frameworks recently awarded:
The Framework for the Provision of Maintenance and Installation of Passenger and Goods and Domestic Stair-Lifts was awarded on the 1 August. All Framework Guidance documents are now available on Sell2Wales. Any queries regarding the Framework are welcomed by the Category Team.
Updates:
Utilites – Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): CCS have awarded the new National Fuels framework which replaces the Ministry of Defence framework. A further mini-competition for LPG has been carried out for the Welsh Public Sector under this Framework. All customers will have the opportunity to review site lists and the proposed costs as soon as a few final clarifications have been received from CCS. Any LPG related queries should be directed to: Angharad.Simmonds@gov.wales
Contact: NPSConstruction&FM@gov.wales
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Corporate and Business Support Services
Updates:
Media Buying, Integrated Marketing Campaigns & Public relations Framework:
Lots 2 & 3 of the framework (Integrated Marketing Campaigns & Public Relations Services) have been awarded and are now live. Lot 1, Media Buying, is out to tender again. The Media Buying lot on the existing All Wales Media Agency Services Framework, will be extended to cover customer requirements in the interim. Please contact our mailbox if you have any queries.
The Supply of High Visibility, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Uniforms, Workwear and Leisurewear:
The framework is now due to go live week commencing 1 October. The existing Welsh Purchasing Consortium Framework has been extended until 30 September to cover customer requirements. If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Stationery and Copier Paper (NPS-CS-0053-16):
- For those of you using Basware, the updated Core List catalogue will be available on Basware by the end of September. All Customer specific “additional discounted lines” have been approved and will also be made available to Customers through Basware and will be updated monthly.
- Customers not using Basware can be provided with a Lyreco marketplace logon to view their specific pricing. The Core List will be kept up to date in Basware and a copy will be loaded periodically on Sell2Wales. We are not able to load copies of Customer specific catalogues onto Sell2Wales but please contact us via the mailbox or Lyreco directly if you require an electronic copy.
- After negotiating a reduction to proposed price increases, applications for price amendments on a number of paper lines under this framework have been accepted. We received supporting evidence from Lyreco and have accepted an early price review of these lines due to exceptional movements in the market for pulp products. All price amendments will be included within the Basware Core List catalogues from 2 October 2017 and updated pricing schedules will be made available on Sell2Wales. Please contact us for information.
Contact: NPSCorporateServices@.gov.wales
Fleet and Transport
Updates:
Telematics: The Options Appraisal for Telematics is due to be finalised by CFG members by the end of September. Minutes of CFG held on 26th July 2017 are available on Sell2Wales here. We anticipate issuing the PIN for Telematics by the end of September.
Vehicle Hire II: Mini competition exercises are being undertaken by NPS Fleet on behalf of several customers. If any customer needs help to identify the most cost effective supply method (direct award or further competition) please contact us.
An All Wales Transport and Plant Group (AWTPG) meeting was held on 5 September: This meeting provided customers with topical presentations from Natural Resources Wales on the Decarbonisation Carbon Positive Project and NHS Wales on Telematics.
Pipeline Update:
We are working with the AWTPG members to develop future procurement pipeline for Fleet. We are setting up working groups to consider the following areas of work to drive best practice and economies of scale:
- Standardisation of vehicle specifications
- Whole life costing models
- Driver License Checks
If any customer would like to get involved with any of these projects or requires more information please contact the NPS fleet mailbox in the first instance.
Events:
Vehicle Spares: We will be holding a Sector Specific event for Fire and rescue Service on Monday 25 September at 10am Welsh Government Pavilion, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. Invitations have been issued to Fleet and Procurement customers in this sector but if anyone else in the sector wishes to attend and has not received the invitation please contact NPS Fleet for more information.
Contact: NPSFleet@gov.wales
 Food
Frameworks Awarded:
The NPS tender for the Supply and Distribution of Fresh Food and Beverages (including Frozen Meat) has been awarded. 80% of the Framework suppliers are Welsh based.
A Notice of Award has been issued to Customers and Quick Guidance has been uploaded to Sell2Wales.
The NPS Food team is keen to assist customers with individual or collaborative engagement under this framework. Please contact the team to discuss further.
The NPS will work with Customers, successful suppliers and Basware to develop eTrading Wales’ marketplace information / Catalogues on request.
Current Tenders:
The NPS tender for the Supply and Distribution of Packaged Food and Beverages (Reference NPS-FOOD-0069-16) was published on 11 August with a return date of 14 September.
The OJEU contract notice describing the requirements was advertised on sell2wales. Bidders were required to submit their tenders prior to the return date.
To
help bidders understand the expectations of the tendering process, the
Food Team ran two Bidder Events, (one in South Wales on 22 August and one in
North Wales on 23 August). These were well attended. Tenders have now been received and are currently being evaluated.
A Category Forum Meeting was held in the NPS Bedwas Office on 15 August
2017.
Contact: NPSFood@gov.wales
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Information and Communications Technology
Updates:
IT Products & Services Framework:
This Framework will expire in January 2018. We are working with customers to analyse options for the framework. These currently include extending the Framework. Further details should be publicised by the end of September/early October.
A case study outlining Welsh Government approach to ICT procurement through the NPS ITPS Frameworks is being produced. This will be on our website shortly.
Information Assurance Services Framework (IAS):
The IAS Framework has been in place now for almost a year. The NPS advised that a review would take place to establish if it would be beneficial to increase the supply base for Lot 2: Certified Professional Schemes IT Health Checks (Non-CHECK). This review is taking place throughout September. If you have any feedback regarding Lot 2 of this framework please let us know.
Current Tenders:
Digital Resources and Digital Services Framework:
We have been engaging with suppliers and customers over the past few months on our next phase of work, after the commodity frameworks are in place. The next phase is still being scoped but potentially could include frameworks for sourcing:
• Digital Resources - a flexible mechanism where buyers can source skills for delivering digital based projects
• Digital Services – a mechanism for buyers to source their digital needs over the next few years helping towards enabling them to achieve their Digital strategies; and
• A Dynamic Purchasing System for Welsh Public Sector Compliant software which would include Welsh Language/Bilingual applications – we are still scoping this requirement and we could be looking to widen the scope to cover wider Public sector policies (accessibility / security requirements etc.)
More details are in the events section. If you have any feedback or want to know more please contact the mailbox.
Digitisation, Storage and Disposal (D S & D):
The Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for D S & D, offers customers a quick, simple and competitive route to procure services from suppliers that have passed basic eligibility and compliance checks. This DPS is a reserved contract for supported businesses. The DPS is split into 2 lots with suppliers able to specify service categories they are able to provide.
 Events:
The category team and the Welsh Governments ICT Sectors team have worked together to arrange a Digital 2017 event which was held at the Tramshed in Cardiff on 18 and 19 September. For more information, visit: http://digital-festival.co.uk/.
Meeting suppliers:
Digital Resources and Digital Services Framework:
We ran engagement events on the 12 September in Llandudno Junction and 15 September in Cardiff. Follow-up
events may take place. Following their success, we will now run customer event. Please let us know if you want to be involved, and to share the event information with any suppliers you think will be interested.
NPS ICT Supplier Workshop:
As part of our work with our suppliers, all existing NPS ICT framework suppliers are invited to attend an event in Bridgend on 12 October. The workshop will cover a number of areas that suppliers have expressed to hear more about such as; The Code of practice: Ethical employment in supply chains, Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and Community Benefits. As well as having presentations from individuals, there will be interactive round table discussions between suppliers and the NPS to establish objectives for outcomes through the frameworks. We encourage buyers to participate and engage directly to the framework suppliers. Please contact the Category Team if you wish to attend.
Contact: NPSICTCategoryTeam@gov.wales
 People Services
Upcoming events:
Managed Service for the provision of Agency Workers framework:
A Category Forum Group (CFG) is being held at 10am on 27 September in Bedwas. Invites have been sent to the CFG but if you have not received an invitation and want to attend please let us know.
Occupational Health & Associated Services:
NPS supplier review meetings with Occupational Health Services and Assistive Technologies Framework suppliers will be taking place soon. If you would like to raise any issues or concerns regarding supplier performance that can be brought up at the meetings, please get in touch.
The next CFG for Occupational Health will be taking place on Wednesday 1 November at 1:00pm until 4:30pm via video conference. Conferencing facilities will be available between the Welsh Government offices at Bedwas, (Caerphilly) and Llandudno Junction, (Conwy). If you wish to attend in either location, please contact us via our mailbox.
Contact: NPSPeopleServices&Utilities@gov.wales
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Professional Services
Updates:
The Construction Consultancy Framework:
The CFG met in July and decided in principle to look to renew the Construction Consultancy (Property) Framework ahead of the final extension option at the end of 2017. Work is ongoing to develop a new model for the agreement and we welcome your input. Please contact NPSProfessionalServices@gov.wales
Legal training available:
Suppliers on the NPS Legal Services by Solicitors Framework are offering a wide range of free and paid for legal training and briefing events. The schedule is available here. For more info please contact us.
Current tenders:
Home Energy Efficiency Improvements and Advice: Warm Homes Wales Programme
The Contract Notice for the Service Provider to Manage and Deliver an All-Wales Demand-Led Fuel Poverty Scheme (Nest) has been published and is available on Sell2Wales with the tender hosted on eTenderWales. The Contract Notice for the All-Wales Area Based Fuel Poverty Scheme (Arbed) is anticipated to be published in October 2017.
Events:
We are planning a workshop to progress the renewal of the Construction Consultancy Property Framework (NPS-PS-0004-14) in late September/early October. If you would like to participate please express your interest by emailing our mailbox
Contact: NPSProfessionalServices@gov.wales
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