Innovative new Automation Marketplace DPS goes live

Public bodies can now access the latest intelligent automation services – enabling them to benefit from a range of innovative technology solutions including business process optimisation, desktop automation, analytics, and much more.  

Crown Commercial Service’s Automation Marketplace DPS opens today, meaning suppliers of all sizes can apply to offer their innovative solutions to public sector customers and customers can begin to buy services.

The agreement includes a stipulation that suppliers offering solutions that involve the use of Artificial Intelligence must declare that they understand and will adhere to a set of ethical guidelines on the use of AI in the public sector. 

The new guidelines are under development. For the time being, suppliers of AI services must follow the Government’s current Data Ethics Framework.

Niall Quinn, CCS Technology Director says:

Automation is becoming increasingly important to Government and by asking suppliers to abide by the AI ethical principles it will assist public bodies and those delivering public-facing services to easily identify AI products and services that meet their ethical requirements.

The agreement has been created in partnership with the Cabinet Office to replace its current Robotic Process Automation contract, which expires in August 2020. It has been designed as a Dynamic Purchasing System, meaning suppliers can join at any point during its lifetime.

The Automation Marketplace will enable public sector customers to use the latest technology to transform business processes with automated solutions that include some AI and machine learning services.

Artificial Intelligence

In February, The Committee on Standards in Public Life published its report on Artificial Intelligence and Public Standards.

The report says that artificial intelligence will transform the way public sector organisations make decisions and deliver public services. 

It calls on Crown Commercial Service to introduce practical tools as part of its new AI framework that help public bodies, and those delivering services to the public, find AI products and services that meet their ethical requirements. 

CCS is currently developing a specific commercial agreement for artificial intelligence, which is being designed to take into account the Committee’s recommendations on ethics. 

Find out more

To find out more about the Automation Marketplace, visit the DPS website.

Save time and money deploying your local authority’s Apple devices

Feedback from our local authority customers has shown that some believe they need to turn to 3rd parties for services such as imaging to help deploy Apple devices. We wanted to bust that myth to help you save time and money by letting you know about the Apple device enrolment programme which enables devices to be ready within minutes rather than days or weeks.

Whether you have ten Apple devices or ten thousand, it’s easy to deploy and manage them with Apple Business Manager. This free web-based portal works seamlessly with mobile device management solutions, so you can set up Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV over the air— without any need for manual configuration.

Device enrolment is a feature of Apple Business Manager that provides a fast, streamlined way to deploy iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac. Apple devices are automatically enrolled into your mobile device management (MDM) system, wirelessly as part of the normal out-of-the-box setup—without any manual configuration.

What are the benefits?

The automated device enrolment feature of Apple Business Manager provides the following key benefits to your users:

  • an easy unboxing experience
  • zero-touch device configuration for IT
  • streamlined, customisable device setup
  • a centralised portal to manage device deployment, purchase and distribute content, and
  • manage roles in the organisation
  • mandatory and non-removable MDM enrolment
  • iPhone and iPad supervision to enable additional capabilities like clearing Activation Lock

Find out more

For further information to ensure you’re getting the most out of your Apple devices and Apple Business Manager, please contact Colin Hammond, Head of UK Public Sector at Apple, at colin.hammond@apple.com.

Devices from Apple and other suppliers are available through our Technology Products and Associated Services framework. If you have any questions about buying IT hardware, off-the-shelf software and associated services at the best price through CCS, please get in touch.

We also run a regular programme of IT hardware aggregations where we combine customer requirements to achieve even greater savings. To find out more about aggregation, go to our aggregation page.

Suppliers named for new public sector Communication Performance agreement

The Communication Performance, Auditing and Analysis framework, designed in collaboration with the Government Communication Service (GCS), customers, and industry experts, promises to improve campaign outcomes for public sector marketing and communications teams.

It is more comprehensive than previous agreements, allowing for the review of total end-to-end campaign spend and the real-time measurement of performance.

CCS spoke to potential customers and suppliers during 2019 and the subsequent agreement reflects their feedback, increasing transparency on the effectiveness of spend, in line with the government’s marketing policy agenda, while making it as simple as possible for SMEs to bid.

5 agencies have been appointed to deliver services through the agreement, including 3 SMEs.

Philippa Hutchins, CCS Media Category Manager, said:

The industry has moved on significantly since our last agreement was launched. The thinking around auditing and assurance has changed. Customers have told us they want to be able to measure outcomes and performance to optimise campaigns while they are live.

This new agreement drives better value for taxpayers across all paid communication activity, establishes best practices, identifies inefficiencies, and raises standards even higher for all communications teams across the public sector.

David Amstel, Head of Campaigns, Cross-Government Campaign Services at Cabinet Office said:

This new framework aids the measurement and evaluation of the whole campaign delivery cycle. It is more important than ever that we are able to prove the value and outcomes of our work as communicators, a task made easier with the support of the excellent range of suppliers available.

The agreement includes increased access to more manageable, low-value opportunities, strengthening specialist and local supply chains – important for customers looking at social value opportunities.

CCS supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2018/19, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits worth £945m – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

Take a look at the new Communication Performance Audit and Analysis agreement.

CCS launches new Cyber Security Services 3 dynamic marketplace

The Cyber Security Services 3 DPS offers a new, flexible way of purchasing services which gives buyers the opportunity to filter their requirements via a simplified procurement procedure to accommodate their business needs.

Different from the Cyber Security Services 2, the DPS is versatile and allows suppliers to join at any time, increasing the range of competition throughout the life of the agreement.
The benefits include:

  • agility and flexibility to meet the public sector’s cyber security requirements
  • accessible route for suppliers to apply to join at any time
  • a dynamic filtering system, giving customers flexibility based on requirements
  • the filter system enables the right suppliers to be matched and hear about the right opportunities
  • quality and price can be assessed based on an individual customer’s requirement
  • a dynamic pool of suppliers that will grow and evolve with the market
  • fully compliant with UK and EU regulations

If you want to find out more about our Cyber Services 3 DPS visit the agreement page. 

Got a question? Get in touch and one of our expert team will be happy to help.  

CCS launch new Supply of Energy and Ancillary Services Framework

The successful suppliers were EDF Energy (electricity) and Total Gas and Power (gas).

As one of the UK’s largest independent energy traders (outside of the big six suppliers,) CCS holds a unique position within the marketplace. This allows us to aggregate volumes to achieve sustainable savings, develop innovative solutions and provide customers with a value added managed service.

Our framework offers extensive benefits to our customers including:

Safe, compliant access to the biggest energy portfolio in the public sector: our bulk buying power means that we can work to get the best possible deals for our customers whilst being OJEU compliant. This provides you with the assurance you need and drives best value through providing a fully open competition.

Transparent costs: as civil servants we all share a common goal to minimise public sector spend and make savings. Service charges and costs of intermediaries can be hidden or unclear. This may allow them to inflate their prices without you knowing, so you are unable to complete a true price comparison. Our commission is low and completely transparent meaning we’ve got some of the most competitive supplier management fees around

Access to our experienced commercial specialists: our knowledge and experience consistently saves customers time and money. Our traders have an unparalleled understanding of the UK gas and power sector, ensuring that our frameworks serve the best interests of all public and third sector organisations, large and small. We also cover all legal costs associated with the procurement.

Enhanced customer service offering – building on the previous agreement, and developed through extensive market engagement, there is now different service offerings allowing customers the flexibility to choose the best solution for them

Providing educational, market and budget reporting – with easily accessible and understandable data at your fingertips to help you manage your usage efficiently

Supplier online portal for customer account access – up to date account information to help you track and monitor your energy consumption

Key account management – dedicated account manager to help with any queries, issues or advice on your account

 

To learn more about the framework and how you can save money on your energy solutions visit our energy page or get in touch with our energy experts and quote ‘energy’.

Make substantial savings on your water services through a CCS eAuction

Aggregations are where we match customers with similar requirements for common goods and services, allowing them to buy as a single customer and leverage on the higher volume with suppliers pricing and added extras. Since this was launched in 2017, we have helped our customers save up to 10% against the retail average, reducing annual bills by £100 to £10,000 depending on the estate size.

This further competition is open to all public sector, non-residential premises and will allow participating customers to switch their retail supplier.  We will combine the requirements of participating customers to increase buying power to secure the best retail margin for water and wastewater services. Customers will also benefit from high standard servicing from a dedicated customer service team.

With the past successes we have had, we are running another Lot 1 – Water and Wastewater supply aggregation in early October. To get involved please download and complete theRM3790 Switching template v9 and email the document to us by 25 September 2019.

New public sector vehicle hire agreement awarded

Public Sector Vehicle Hire Solutions gives customers access to solutions including car hire, light commercial vehicles (LCV), on-road and full off-road 4x4s, minibuses, heavy goods vehicles, international vehicle hire and car share schemes.

The agreement makes it easier for customers to implement workable car share schemes, also known as car club, and daily rental options, which are now available on the same lot.

11 suppliers including 3 small and medium-sized enterprises were awarded places on the agreement, which will run for three years.

Suppliers were required to demonstrate their social value credentials as part of the award and easy-to-follow guidance is given so that customers can evaluate social value during the call off stage.

Katrina Williams, Head of Travel at CCS, said: ‘We’re excited to launch this new agreement to support the public sector in achieving maximum commercial value on vehicle hire.

‘Our enhanced lot structure means we are now able to offer customers daily rental and car share services through a single supplier solution, saving them time, money and improving their experience.’

The framework is available to all public sector bodies including central government, devolved administrations, NHS bodies, local authorities, police, the voluntary sector and charities. It is also available to any private sector organisation procuring on behalf of the public sector.

Car sharing can help employers to reduce the number of miles driven in customers’ own cars, cutting hire costs and administrative burden. Cars can also be returned flexibly, further reducing costs and emissions.

Find out more about this agreement.

Network Services 2 awarded

 

  • Suppliers named on new Network Services 2 agreement
  • Deal provides public sector with access to telecommunications services
  • New agreement ‘has the capacity to help change the way government bodies communicate with – and for – the public they serve’

 

Suppliers have been chosen for a new government procurement agreement designed to help public sector bodies to get the best deal on their telecommunications.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has awarded places to 95 suppliers – 58% of them small and medium-sized enterprises – for its Network Services 2 agreement.

The deal will provide public bodies with access to mobile, voice, video and data telecommunications services including WiFi, security and email. 

Ieuan Trigger, CCS’s Deputy Director for Technology, said: ‘Network Services 2 has the capacity to help change the way government bodies and the wider public sector communicate with – and for – the public they serve. 

‘By working with customers, suppliers and industry bodies throughout its design and construction we have arrived at an innovative solution which will drive successful transformation across government.’

The new agreement was designed following engagement with telecommunications suppliers and public sector customers from across the UK, including workshops hosted in partnership with trade body Innopsis and Tech UK. 

The agreement features an expanded roster of suppliers in key areas such as Internet Access & Unified Communications, and three new telecommunications lots; for radio, CCTV and contact centres. 

It will run for three years, with the option to extend by a further 12 months.

Find out more about this agreement.

Government awards new construction procurement agreement

All public sector bodies can use Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Construction Works and Associated Services agreement to find companies to help build things like new schools, hospitals, office buildings, universities, prisons, and houses. It has a maximum potential value of £30bn over the next seven years. 

The agreement prevents public bodies having to run their own costly and time-consuming procurement exercises.

It will help both the government and the construction sector in achieving objectives under the Government’s Construction Strategy and Industrial Strategy, which was formed in collaboration with industry and supports sustainable construction.

CCS has today named 128 suppliers, including 57 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), on the procurement agreement. 31 of 38 sub-lots have been awarded today. CCS expects to award the remaining lots in due course.

It is the first government-led construction agreement which can be used by the whole public sector. Organisations will use the agreement to find companies to construct new buildings, refurbish existing properties, undertake repairs and demolition, and decommission redundant assets.

The Minister for Implementation, Simon Hart, said: 

This agreement will help public bodies across the country carry out the work needed to build much-needed new housing as well as improve schools and hospital buildings.

I know this will be welcomed by people up and down the country and I really look forward to seeing some of the incredible projects this agreement will help to facilitate.

Sam Ulyatt, Commercial Director, Buildings at CCS said: 

This new agreement provides a solid foundation for public sector bodies to achieve the best outcomes and value for their investment across the whole construction lifecycle. 

The principles of this agreement are collaboration and integration with supply chains, boosting innovation at a critical time and supporting the government’s work towards achieving a zero carbon 2050 target.

The new agreement was designed to ensure a level playing-field for SMEs. There are lots for different contract values and regional lots open to local suppliers, to ensure that smaller companies can compete for places. Close to 99% of all providers in the construction industry are SMEs.

Housing associations and local authorities can use the agreement to commission house building. CCS will engage directly with commissioners to provide procurement guidance, helping the government to meet its target of building 300,000 homes each year.

The agreement also provides access to specialist construction work for air-side and maritime construction services, as well as modern methods of construction, such as offsite manufacturing.

Norfolk County Council saves on managed print

Norfolk County Council – Simplify, Standardise, Share

The requirement

Improve on the former managed print service (MPS) to provide enhanced local government services for citizens and smarter ways of working within the Council and in frontline services while delivering ambitious cost savings.

Challenges

  • previous managed print service not meeting ambitious savings targets
  • not all NCC sites were covered by previous MPS
  • devices from different suppliers created extra training requirements for users
  • inconsistent workflow from post room to fleet

Approach

  • streamline printing and imaging processes
  • redesigning internal systems to be digital by design
  • enable more effective use of data

The Solution

County-wide implementation saves money

Norfolk County Council’s first managed print service (MPS) was implemented in 2011, replacing the Council’s previously fragmented print operations with a single, integrated and enterprise-wide print service. The key objectives of this initial MPS were to rationalise print operations and establish an effective policy on printing, especially around reducing waste and inefficiency.

The benefits of having a new, centrally controlled print strategy included:

  • simplified and standardised printing facilities for end-users
  • fewer print drivers for IT services to manage and support
  • security and accountability for print, copy, fax and scanning
  • a simple centrally controlled MFD-based scanning solution
  • reduced paper usage
  • reduced carbon emissions due to more efficient devices

As the contract neared completion, NCC’s reprocurement criterion was that the solution had to be improved upon as the Council recognised that more needed to be done to meet its ambitious savings targets. The new print service would not only need to be implemented across all NCC sites – including the county’s Fire and Rescue Service that had not previously benefited from the service but also functionality would need to be improved to enhance efficiency and provide savings, both financial and environmental.

NCC realised that its existing set-up with MFDs, desktop printers and software from multiple suppliers was no longer fit for purpose. Using the CCS framework RM1599, NCC worked with Canon who identified that fewer single-function printers, improved digitisation, better productivity and standardisation throughout would create annual savings of £765,000 including Library Services.

The results

  • reduced printing costs by more than £765,000 per annum – over £3.8 million over 5 years
  • more reliable public printing service
  • reduced the administrative burden associated with recharging click costs
  • improved employee productivity
  • reduced environmental impact

“With its proven track record of service excellence and building long-term relationships for mutual benefit, Canon worked proactively with us to provide a better, more personalised service than previous suppliers.”

Geoff Connell, Head of Information Management and Technology

Benefits For Libraries

The Norfolk Library and Information Service operate 47 static libraries of different sizes ranging from Hingham Library, with one member of staff and three public terminals, to the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library with over 100 public terminals and about 50 staff terminals. Altogether, there are around 560 public terminals.

The previous solution to offer public printing was not only unsecure, but it was also neither able to record printing activity nor recharge it to the libraries. Since 2017, the new solution has successfully addressed these issues. In addition, staff and members of the public are now able to print from their own devices, such as smartphones and tablets.

For further information

If you would like to find out more about any of the CCS managed print solutions and how we can support you please get in touch:

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