Changes to our agreements in June

Welcome to our monthly framework update to help you with your procurement planning. We will publish it online each month and also share it in our newsletters and on our social media channels.

The update provides a brief summary of what has been awarded, extended or expired during the previous month. It also outlines what is due to expire in the next 3 months.

You can also get an overview of all of our live frameworks in our interactive digital brochure.

Agreements awarded in June

No agreements were awarded in June.

Agreements extended in June

Agreements that expired in June

Agreements due to expire in the next 3 months

Further information

If you need further details about any of these agreements please get in touch.

You can also find out what new procurements we are working on by exploring our upcoming agreement page.

If you don’t currently receive our monthly customer newsletter why not also subscribe to receive these updates and more directly to your inbox? Just fill in this short form.

CCS becomes the first public sector construction framework provider to achieve Gold Standard status on new government verification scheme

The scheme was launched by Constructing Excellence in late 2023, in partnership with King’s College London, following an independent review commissioned by the Cabinet Office and carried out by Professor David Mosey MBE, of public sector construction frameworks in 2021. The review led to recommendations for a ‘gold standard’ to be introduced against which new proposed frameworks and framework contracts can be measured. 

Across the public and private sectors, there are currently over 2,000 active construction frameworks but a lack of clear guidance as to a preferred structure and ‘best practice’ features. As a result, some frameworks are not always successful in offering value for the public sector, and there is a significant cost and time wastage by public sector clients and bidders. 

Being verified as a Gold Standard framework requires a provider to submit comprehensive evidence to show that they meet or exceed set criteria. It is anticipated that cost wastage will be substantially reduced by introducing the new Gold Standard across the industry to help contracting authorities make better, informed decisions and easily identify those frameworks which meet best practices and embody the policies set out in the Construction Playbook.  

The benefits of Gold Standard frameworks include:

  • providing consistency across construction projects, ensuring that vital public sector developments have rigorous measures in place to manage risk and make sure that projects are delivered successfully
  • providing higher standards of building safety and efficiency
  • unlocking cleaner, greener construction approaches and accelerating decarbonisation
  • encouraging innovation in modern construction methods and the use of digital technology
  • encouraging early supply chain engagement and collaboration, opening opportunities for SMEs to bid for public sector contracts

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) offers the largest number of complementary construction commercial agreements in the UK, providing a wide range of customers across central government and the wider public sector with end-to-end integrated solutions for their project requirements. To achieve this accreditation, CCS took part in the verification pilot initiative, launched by Constructing Excellence in November 2023, and met all 24 Gold Standard recommendations across all of its construction frameworks following the full verification process. The recommendations have been made to improve outcomes in areas such as building safety and information, risk management, collaborative delivery, sustainability and supply chain engagement.

John Welch, Commercial Director Estates, said: 

I’m delighted that CCS’s Construction frameworks have achieved Gold Standard status. Our frameworks are designed to facilitate a real shift change in how construction requirements are procured, increasing supply chain collaboration, boosting innovation, supporting carbon net zero targets, and focusing just as strongly on building safety. 

This accreditation demonstrates how we’re continuously improving our service for customers. It isn’t just about saving them time and money. It’s about maximising their estates to build a better future for the communities they serve.

Find out more

You can find a full list of all the commercial agreements we offer, alongside details of how we can help you build policy considerations into your procurement, in our interactive digital brochure. 

Changes to our agreements in May

Welcome to our monthly framework update to help you with your procurement planning. We will publish it online each month and also share it in our newsletters and on our social media channels.

The update provides a brief summary of what has been awarded, extended or expired during the previous month. It also outlines what is due to expire in the next 3 months.

You can also get an overview of all of our live frameworks in our interactive digital brochure.

Agreements awarded in May

No agreements were awarded in May.

Agreements extended in May

Agreements that expired in May

Agreements due to expire in the next 3 months

Further information

If you need further details about any of these agreements please get in touch.

You can also find out what new procurements we are working on by exploring our upcoming deals page.

If you don’t currently receive our monthly customer newsletter why not also subscribe to receive these updates and more directly to your inbox? Just fill in this short form.

CCS customer newsletter – May 2024

Latest news

Our latest digital brochure is now live
We’ve recently updated our digital brochure with an overview of how we can bring power to your procurement. Whether you are looking for more information on Transforming Public Procurement, an up to date summary of our products and services or to learn more about how we have been helping our customers, our digital brochure is here to help. Get easy access to all of the information you need by downloading our digital brochure today.

10 years of helping the public sector save time and money
April marked a big milestone for CCS as we celebrated our 10-year anniversary – following a decade of success and delivering value for our customers.

We’ve launched our Transforming Public Procurement web page
The Transforming Public Procurement programme will change how public procurement in the UK is regulated. Access all our resources together in one handy place.

Agreement updates
Find out which agreements were extended, expired or awarded last month in our regular monthly update.

Procurement Essentials
We have developed our Procurement Essentials series to help you overcome common hurdles, understand key concepts and make your life as a buyer easier.

Aggregation opportunities

Microsoft autumn 2024, closing date: Friday 7 June
Vehicles summer 2024, closing date: Friday 14 June
Postal services, closing date: Wednesday 31 July
Mobile voice and data services late 2024, closing date:  Monday 16 September
Find out more about aggregation

Upcoming events and webinars

Events

LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Tuesday 2 July to Thursday 4 July
SOCITM President’s Conference, Wednesday 12 June to Thursday 13 June

Webinars

Auctions Masterclass: Optimising Asset Disposals, Wednesday 19 June
Audit and assurance services (RM6310) customer engagement: round 2, Tuesday 2 July
Power Purchase agreement FAQs, on demand

View all events

More news

Save time with aggregated buying
Explore new opportunities in our upcoming postal services and vehicle aggregations, as well as our regular technology hardware and software events.

View all case studies

View all news

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Get in touch
If you would like to discuss your next procurement project call 0345 410 2222 to speak with one of our experts or email our customer service team at info@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Crown Commercial Service, Floor 9, The Capital Building, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9PP

CCS announces a new Memorandum of Understanding with Virgin Media O2, providing better value, including social value benefits, for public sector customers

Along with offering attractive discounts, the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will make it even easier for public sector organisations to buy, consume and manage all their telecom and network requirements. This includes mobile and internet connectivity, equipment and devices, IP telephony, professional technical services and equipment maintenance. It covers all areas of Virgin Media O2’s (VMO2) portfolio including its award winning gigabit fibre and 5G-ready mobile.

Every eligible public sector organisation can benefit from the value for money the MoU represents. This ranges from central government to the wider public sector, for example Local Authorities and Arm’s Length Bodies. The MoU will remain in place for a 3 year initial term with option to extend for a further 2 years.

It aims to support a number of social value initiatives that align to policy agendas, such as helping to bridge the digital divide across the UK. For example, VMO2 has committed to maintaining a programme of activities that demonstrate to buyers how the organisation can ‘Do Good with Digital’. Examples include the Community through Connectivity initiative to support 2.5 million households facing digital exclusion across the UK, in partnership with Good Things Foundation.

Additionally, public sector customers can benefit from learning and development opportunities through the MoU, such as ‘Connect More’ – a volunteering programme that enables VMO2 employees to work with public sector customers to build and improve their digital, telecommunications, and connectivity skills. 

Philip Orumwense CBE, Commercial Director and Chief Technology Procurement Officer at CCS says: 

Mobile voice and data is an integral part of enabling service delivery for the public sector. The ability to talk and communicate to colleagues and citizens and access and share data quickly and securely has never been more important.

This new MoU uses the buying power that CCS has to deliver cost effective and soundly procured connectivity solutions. The agreement additionally provides access to proof of value investments and commitments from VMO2. There will also be additional benefits for customers through increased social value and L&D opportunities.

MoUs are a preferential pricing agreement negotiated by CCS on behalf of the public sector.  They are carefully designed to compliment public sector frameworks and, critically, don’t replace any terms or conditions in place. Customers can access the VMO2 MoU discounted pricing by going through our  Mobile Voice and Data Services, Network Services 3 and Technology Products and Services 2 agreements.

Let us bring power to your procurement 

You can speak to one of our technology experts to find out how we can support your specific requirements. Please complete our online form quoting ‘Virgin Media O2 MoU’ and we will be in touch.

 

Changes to our agreements in April

Welcome to our monthly framework update to help you with your procurement planning. We will publish it online each month and also share it in our newsletters and on our social media channels.

The update provides a brief summary of what has been awarded, extended or expired during the previous month. It also outlines what is due to expire in the next 3 months.

You can also get an overview of all of our live frameworks in our interactive digital brochure.

Agreements awarded in April

Agreements extended in April

Agreements that expired in April

Agreements due to expire in the next 3 months

Further information

If you need further details about any of these agreements please get in touch.

You can also find out what new procurements we are working on by exploring our upcoming deals page.

If you don’t currently receive our monthly customer newsletter why not also subscribe to receive these updates and more directly to your inbox? Just fill in this short form.

How CCS is enabling a greener supply chain

In June of 2021, Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21 was released by the Cabinet Office. 

The requirements outlined in PPN 06/21 have created an opportunity for all of us to work towards the same goal of achieving net zero by 2050. We are working to optimise your supply chain to ensure you can maximise your net zero and social responsibility goals. 

Find out how the new requirements impact you, what steps are being taken to help suppliers fulfil the requirements of PPN 06/21, and why a greener supply chain is good for everyone.

PPN 06/21 introduces new criteria at the selection stage of the procurement and requires any suppliers bidding on contracts over £5 million to detail their commitment to achieving Net Zero through the publication of a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP).

What is a carbon reduction plan?

A CRP provides a visible way to measure your supply chain’s impact on your organisation’s carbon footprint. A supplier’s CRP will allow you to view their emissions data in a standardised way that complies with new government requirements. 

Supplier CRPs need to:

  • be regularly updated and published on the supplier’s website 
  • verify the supplier’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 
  • provide current UK emissions for Scope 1 and 2 of the greenhouse gas (GHG) Protocol, in addition to a subset of Scope 3 emissions
  • provide emissions reporting for the 6 greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol
  • detail the environmental management measures that can be applied in the delivery of the contract

What impact does PPN 06/21 have on you?

Across the UK 74% of District, County, Unitary and Metropolitan Councils have declared a Climate Emergency. Part of the work they are undertaking is looking at the supply chain and working with them in order to hit the targets they have set for themselves. 

In-Scope Organisations should take action to apply PPN 06/21 when procuring goods and/or services and/or works which are subject to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, where there is an anticipated contract value of £5 million per annum and above (excluding VAT) unless it is not related and proportionate to the contract.

How is CCS enabling a greener supply chain?

Engaging with sustainable suppliers can help your organisation demonstrate its commitment to the environment. Greener supply chains can help:

  • reduce your environmental impact
  • ensure more ethical raw materials are used
  • improve supply chain employee working conditions
  • drive operational efficiency

At Crown Commercial Service (CCS), we realise how critical it is for our customers that suppliers comply with new government regulations stipulated in PPN 06/21. 

“We are educating and encouraging the entire public sector supply chain to step up and meet the Governments’ Net Zero policy ambitions. Working alongside our customers, our suppliers are critical to our ability to deliver. We need their expertise, products, services, compliance and effective reporting to enable our customers to deliver their commitments,” explains Joe Tilley, Sustainability Director and Strategic Portfolio.

Not only have we embraced it for our relevant commercial agreements, we are also offering CRP training to ensure your supply chain can contribute to your net zero and social responsibility goals. Since December 2021, the CCS Sustainability team has trained thousands of suppliers to help them produce, release, and maintain a CRP that conforms to the requirements detailed in PPN 06/21. 

What makes the CRP training so effective? 

By design, the training enables attendees to engage with the presenter interactively. Questions can be asked at any time during the session. Every session is run with a standard format to maintain consistency and allow as many questions to be answered during each session.

“We are taking proactive steps to get in front of Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21 implementation. The support we are giving suppliers reflects the positive steps we are making to implement the policy,” explains Marie-Helene Durif, Deputy Director, Technology Products & Services and workstream Lead for Supplier Sustainability.

Rallying to the challenge

Suppliers have rallied to the challenge to create compliant CRPs, providing invaluable feedback and insight. Here’s what they are saying:

Can customers attend a session to understand more?

Customers can also join the training along with suppliers. The training sessions allow customers to see how a CRP is created and what information to look for as part of their procurement process.  

If you want to join in, secure your place today. Or you can watch the training sessions on demand here.

Let us bring power to your procurement

To learn more, visit our Carbon Net Zero web page. If you have any questions, we are here to help – contact the team.

Our new simplified and sustainable vehicle telematics agreement goes live

Vehicle telematics hardware and software solutions are used to collect data about the vehicle it is fitted to and how it is driven. The data produced ranges from location tracking and fuel consumption to speed and movement and how a vehicle is being driven (driver behaviour).

The full range of telematics products and services available under the new Vehicle Telematics Solutions [RM6315] agreement will allow customers to better analyse the use of their vehicles and make informed, evidence-based decisions in the management of their fleet. It is an important component of the total fleet solutions offered by CCS. 

The key benefit of telematics solutions to customers is the use of real time vehicle data to support the management of risk and efficient fleet management. These benefits can result from using the vehicle data to identify, implement and manage initiatives designed to improve driver behaviour and compliance with fleet policy. For example, by using tracking solutions like driver ID and automated driver benchmarking, customers can improve the on-road behaviour of their drivers, reducing the risk of accidents, injuries and property damage.

The new agreement  replaces the current Vehicle Telematics Hardware and Software Solutions [RM6143] agreement, which expired on 23 April 2024. It is similar in terms of scope and scale to its predecessor but with the introduction of a new single-lot structure that offers all available products and services in one place. This allows buyers to more easily identify the solution that suits them and provides a simpler procurement journey. 

Sustainability remains a key focus, with vehicle analysis tools helping customers to achieve their carbon reduction goals by improving fuel efficiency and informing their approach to the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

The new agreement will run for 2 years, until its expiry on 4 March 2026.

Tammy Carter, Head of Fleet at Crown Commercial Service, said:

We’re delighted to launch our newest vehicle telematics agreement, offering a simple and efficient route to market that gives public sector customers access to sustainable, safety-conscious solutions that enable value through fleet optimisation.

It is another example of the additional value CCS offers its customers in connecting them with the solutions they need.

High inclusion for SME suppliers

The marketplace for vehicle telematics includes many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and this agreement represents our commitment to supporting SMEs. 90% of the suppliers awarded places on the agreement are SMEs.

Innovations and benefits

  • a simple 1 lot structure, encompassing a wide range of vehicle telematics solutions in a single, consolidated framework
  • a simple order form has been introduced to support the customer journey by giving easier access to the full range of products available under the agreement
  • specific solutions are now available for: 
    • specialist and heavy vehicles including those utilised for waste management, winter maintenance or other Streetscene operations 
    • customers undertaking covert operations and blue light related fleet and incident management

Find out more

To find out more about Vehicle Telematics Solutions visit the agreement webpage or contact the CCS Service Desk at info@crowncommercial.gov.uk / 0345 410 2222.

Don’t forget, you can find a full list of all the commercial agreements we offer, alongside details of how we can help you build policy considerations into your procurement, in our interactive digital brochure.

CCS appoints a new Chief Executive Officer

Sam will be known to many at CCS from her prior time as Commercial Director for Buildings, before she left to join Home Office as Chief Commercial Officer in July 2020. During her time at the Home Office, she has led on the many commercial and operational challenges they have faced.

Sam is based in the North West and will start at CCS on 8th July to allow a handover period with Simon before he retires.

Peter George, Chair of CCS’s Board, says:

I am pleased that Sam will be joining us as CEO and I look forward to working with her, the Board and the Executive team. Welcome back to CCS Sam!

Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, Cat Little, says:

I am delighted that Sam Ulyatt will be taking on the role as the new Chief Executive of the Crown Commercial Service. Joining from the Home Office where she was Chief Commercial Officer, Sam has a wealth of experience in leading and finding solutions to complex commercial challenges; I look forward to seeing all she achieves in this new role.

Simon Tse, current CCS Chief Executive, says:

First of all, I’d like to offer my sincere congratulations to Sam on her appointment as the new CCS Chief Executive. I’m really pleased to be handing the baton on to someone who knows, and is passionate about, CCS and will continue to live the values of the organisation. I know she will be committed to driving value for our customers and ensuring that the CCS values of Listen, Respect, Collaborate and Trust are embedded throughout the organisation. With the new Procurement Regulations coming later this year, I have all faith in Sam’s ability to lead CCS at such an exciting time.

Gareth Rhys Williams, Government Chief Commercial Officer and CCS Non-Executive Director, says:

I’m thrilled that Sam has been appointed as CEO of CCS. CCS plays a vital role in the success of the wider Commercial Function and her combination of private sector background and her experience at the Home Office and from previously at CCS makes her ideally suited for this role. Her energy, focus on the customer, and experience of negotiating major deals will all help CCS continue to build on the strong base that Simon has established.

Sam Ulyatt says:

I am delighted to have the opportunity to come back to Crown Commercial Service as your Chief Executive. We will, together, continue the great work across the public sector by adding value to the critical services we support and enabling better outcomes for the UK. I commit to shape and lead the organisation by listening, respecting, collaborating and trusting. Key to this is connecting with the whole of the public sector and providing direction in which we all commit to deliver for stakeholders.

Crown Commercial Service marks 10 years of helping the UK public sector achieve value from its procurement

Over the past 10 years we are proud to have gone from strength-to-strength, growing both our team and the commercial solutions we offer – and supporting more and more organisations across the public sector. 

Notable successes over the last 10 years include: 

  • Commercial benefits have increased from £606m in 2017/18 to £3.8 billion in 2023/24*
  • the choice of approved suppliers on our commercial agreements has increased significantly from 1,700 to more than 10,000 – 7,500 of which are SMEs (a growth of 88%)
  • the scope of our commercial agreements has grown to approximately 120 currently live agreements used by over 21,000 customers

CCS was established  in its current form in April 2014 to replace the Government Procurement Service with the aim of centralising central government procurement spend and helping the UK public sector to better extract value from its commercial and procurement activity. As a Trading Fund, predecessor organisations to CCS began in 1991.

It provides commercial agreements to give all public sector bodies a choice of vetted suppliers who offer the best value, leveraging the scale of public sector demand. By using these agreements, to buy everything from locum doctors and laptops to police cars and electricity, public sector customers can achieve commercial benefits such as reduced costs compared to market prices and better value in contract terms and conditions. In 2022/23, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £3.8 billion. 

CCS also has responsibility for building commercial skills and capability across government and the public sector. For example, in 2022, we announced our commitment to invest £12 million in the NHS to enable a common procurement platform, Atamis, across the health service. Within the first year of the programme significant benefits and efficiencies have already been realised, with further still expected as the platform is more widely rolled out. This includes the North West London Procurement Services, which provides a single shared service for 9 NHS partner organisations. The switch to the Atamis system has helped them to identify £34 million of potential savings, allowing them to reinvest into patient care. 

Simon Tse, CEO of CCS said: 

CCS’s 10-year anniversary is an exciting milestone, not only because we have so much to look back on and be proud of, but also because it marks the start of our next chapter. 

I would like to say a special thank you to our fantastic team (past and present) for all of their hard work and dedication – and to the many amazing customers and suppliers we have had the pleasure of working alongside.

We are still on a journey of changing and evolving as an organisation to ensure that we can achieve everything we have set out to achieve in our ambitious strategy.

Parliamentary Secretary Alex Burghart said:

Over the past ten years, Crown Commercial Service has brought substantial benefits to its customers across the public sector. 

Through its offer of a wide range of choices and working to bring better value across their commercial activity, CCS has already helped customers to achieve billions of pounds of savings. 

I congratulate the CCS on all that it has achieved in its first decade, and look forward to seeing its continued success and growth.

Jacqui Rock, Chief Commercial Officer, NHS England said: 

Congratulations to CCS on a wonderful 10 years. It is a pleasure to work with you in pursuit of NHS ambitions, most recently through the energy product, that is helping the health service to achieve greater value for money and find efficiencies for reinvestment into patient care. I look forward to our continued partnership and where this will take us in the next 10 years.

*The methodology for calculating commercial benefits has evolved since the formation of CCS. The current methodology was established in FY 2017/18 and provides a like-for-like comparison to the present day.