Public Sector Contractsand Opportunities

Christine Storry

This Session will cover…

• Public sector – context• What is public sector procurement• Local and non-local• Accessing contracts• What you need to consider• Other routes to a contract• Social value, Govt plans, local strategies

What is the Public Sector?

Local Government

Central Government (each Dept) NHS/Health/

Hospitals

Prisons

Police/Fire ServiceUniversities

(some elements)Military(Army,

Navy, RAF

£2.4bn pa

Range of food-related contracts

Fundamentally two types – products or services• Direct product supply – by producer

– eg BNES’ current school food contract• Catering services – by a catering services organisation

– eg internal meetings, functions, etc• Schools meals – by major catering services provider• Patient meals

– eg hospitals, NHS• Student meals

What is Public Sector Procurement?

• It’s not buying things• It’s the process by which contracts are put in

place from which goods, services and works are then bought

• It should follow this type of process

• Key area• Dictates how ‘stuff’ is procured

- not what is procured

Why is it so cumbersome?

• EU Procurement Directive 2014• UK Public Contracts Regulations 2015• Social Value (Public Sector) Act 2012• Internal rules ‘Contract Standing Orders’• Conflicting priorities• Public money being spent – due process needs

to be followed

The EU Processes

• Mandatory processes over threshold – but have a choice of process

• Mandatory minimum timescales• Must have documentation in place before

advertisement• Must have evaluation criteria in place before

advertisement• All of the above have advantages for potential

suppliers

The minefield of ‘Local’

-V-

E-Procurement Portals

• Used by the majority of public bodies to varying degrees

• Most also use them for sub-EU threshold contracts

• Will be mandatory by 2017• Key ones in this region for LAs• www.proactisplaza.com • www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk• https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk

Pre-procurement engagement

• Actively promoted under new EU directives• Opportunity to speak directly to procurers• Influence the specification• If small[er] identify potential key partners• Identify niche requirements• If larger, identify potential supply chain

partners

Consider

• Why do you want a contract with a public body?• What difference would it make to your

organisation? or • How large is your organisation?• Do you have or to tender?

• Are you a niche/one-product provider?• Are you able to meet requirements consistently?

Working together

• Going it alone can be difficult• Other options:– Collaboration– Partnerships– Sub-contracting

Balanced Scorecard + Buying Standards

BNES Local Food Strategy

Social Value

Local Suppliers=

Local Economy

Carbon Emissions Reduction

Employment andtraining,

apprentices,work experience

Community Benefits

This Session has covered…

• Public sector – context • What is public sector procurement • Local and non-local • Accessing contracts • What you need to consider • Other routes to a contract • Social value, Govt plans, local strategies