What suppliers need to know about creating and maintaining Carbon Reduction Plans

In this article, Marta Hyder, Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS – now GCA) CRP compliance lead, advises suppliers on how to meet their net zero requirements to continue to work with the public sector.

What is a Carbon Reduction Plan?

A Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) is a strategy that demonstrates how an organisation is committed to reaching net zero by 2050 in line with the Government’s ambitions. It is designed to help buyers understand the impact a contract has upon the environment.

It should:

  • state the supplier’s clear commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 or before
  • contain carbon emissions data from the most recent 18-month reporting period before the CRP’s submission
  • outline the emissions reduction measures and projects you already have in place, or will implement, that will be used in the delivery of the contract for which you are bidding
  • detail any structural changes that might impact your environmental activity
  • be published on your website within the last 12 months

A CRP is a compliance requirement for UK Government suppliers when bidding for government contracts with an anticipated annual value (including VAT) of £5 million or above.

To stay compliant you are responsible for reviewing your CRP and updating your current emissions data at least annually.

Why do public sector suppliers need a CRP?

In June 2021, Cabinet Office published a new Procurement Policy Note (PPN), called PPN 06/21, that required suppliers who bid for public sector contracts valued at £5 million per year and above to submit an updated CRP. 

This means suppliers bidding for public sector contracts valued over that threshold are required to submit a plan at the selection stage of the procurement. It is judged against a set of criteria that determines whether it meets the necessary standard.

Suppliers who do not have a CRP, or submit an outdated plan, will not meet this requirement and therefore will not be able to continue with their bid.

Under the Procurement Act 2023, which governs all procurement activity commencing after 24 February 2025, a new PPN has been published which maintains the same basic requirements, called PPN 006. All procurements undertaken prior to this date will remain subject to PPN 06/21 until the agreement or contract expires.

Guidance has been published by Cabinet Office to assist suppliers with their CRPs under both PPN 06/21 and PPN 006, including the information that you must include and how it should be presented.

5 top tips for suppliers when creating a CRP

1. Check whether you need a CRP

If the contract you are bidding for does not meet the £5 million per year threshold, it will not require a CRP to be submitted. This threshold means plenty of contracts are exempt from CRP requirements.

However, putting a CRP in place, even when not strictly required, could prove a benefit for you. Using less energy and cheaper renewable sources will ultimately save businesses money, and having a CRP ready can also help you more easily move on to new larger-scale opportunities in the long term.

2. Get help calculating your current carbon footprint

A number of private sector organisations offer support and tools for businesses wanting to calculate their carbon footprint, although there are also plenty of free resources available to assist in this process. Some of these services in the private sector are available for free, easing the burden on smaller suppliers. 

A Government-endorsed carbon footprint calculator is available via the UK Business Climate Hub, and can be accessed through our dedicated CRP webpage. 

3. Understand what you need to include

Creating a CRP does not mean every single piece of information relating to carbon net zero or environmental impact you have needs to be included.

CRPs from suppliers bidding for the same contract are not ‘scored’ or compared to each other as part of the procurement process – you simply have to meet the required standard. 

The requirements clearly state the information that is expected as part of these plans and can be found through the Cabinet Office guidance on the respective PPNs.

4. Use the resources available

Suppliers are encouraged to make use of the CRP template that is included in Annex A of PPN 06/21 and Section 7 of PPN 006. This gives a clear framework to help lay out your plans and save you time and resources. 

Cabinet Office has also created a more extensive frequently asked questions (FAQ) page about CRPs that is available on GOV.UK. This page covers a wide range of questions and information for suppliers about the process of creating a plan and its application in the bid process.

5. Sign up for dedicated CRP training

The GCA Sustainability team offers monthly training sessions to help suppliers create a compliant CRP.

These training sessions’ primary objective is to help break down the process of creating a CRP. The sessions look at the critical components required and common mistakes to avoid.

Suppliers and customers can sign up for training sessions or view the sessions on demand.

Find out more

To learn more about our work in the journey towards carbon net zero, visit our dedicated web page. 

To learn more about how GCA is levelling the playing field for suppliers of all sizes, download our digital brochure.

We always welcome feedback, suggestions or queries. These can be submitted to smefeedback@gca.gov.uk.

What buyers need to know about the new National Procurement Policy Statement

The UK Government published a new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) which came into effect on 24 February 2025 alongside the Procurement Act 2023.

This strategic statement lays out the key objectives public sector organisations should look to achieve when they spend public money through procurement.

Contracting authorities must “have regard” to the NPPS when they carry out any procurement activity, with some limited exceptions. 

What does this mean for public sector buyers?

The overarching aim of the statement is to ensure value for money through public sector procurement, supporting the Government’s 5 missions.

The statement lays out 3 key pathways to achieving this value for money that contracting authorities should consider:

  • driving economic growth
  • delivering social and economic value
  • building commercial capability

The full NPPS contains further detail on each of these 3 pathways, as well as key deliverables to help contracting authorities understand how to contribute to each.

The Procurement Act 2023 says contracting authorities should be able to show that the goals of the NPPS were considered as part of any given procurement. It is therefore recommended for buyers to document their decision-making processes in relation to the NPPS.

What action do you need to take now?

Everyone involved in the procurement process across the UK public sector has a role to play in delivering the strategic aims set out by the Government. 

The NPPS should be read and its aims understood not just by procurement teams, but by the strategic leadership and key decision-makers in contracting authorities. It should then be considered every time you, as a buyer, carry out a procurement using public money, and your activity aligned to these aims where practical.

This means aiming, in your procurement decisions, to achieve value for money by using public money efficiently, promoting social value, and building your own commercial capability. 

As a buyer, you should assess your own processes and procurement priorities, ensuring they are compatible with the key aims of the NPPS and identify opportunities to contribute to them, as well as any potential roadblocks. 

This could include:

  • creating action plans for increasing your work with SME and VCSE suppliers 
  • considering any upskilling opportunities needed to improve commercial capability 
  • assessing your modern slavery and carbon net zero policies to make sure they are fit for purpose 

Supporting these aims over the longer term will keep you in step with other contracting authorities as they adapt to meet the new aims.

Finally, the aims should be applied proportionately to the procurement in question. This means you need to keep your procurement goals realistic for the contract size. 

Meeting NPPS requirements does not mean that you need to create extra savings or add social value measures that are not relevant and proportionate to the contract. 

Find out more

You can read the National Procurement Policy Statement along with accompanying guidance on GOV.UK.

You can also now find all of our Procurement Essentials articles in one place on our website. 

Call for evaluators for our new Courier, Distribution, Storage and Specialist Solutions agreement

We are looking for a group of volunteers from public sector organisations to help with the evaluation of our new Courier, Distribution, Storage and Specialist Solutions agreement (RM6354).

This new agreement will replace 2 existing CCS agreements: Courier and Specialist Movements (RM6171) and Storage, Distribution, Kitting and Associated Services (RM6282).

Evaluators are an important part of the procurement process. In addition to playing an important role within CCS, becoming an evaluator counts towards your corporate contribution and is encouraged in departments across the Civil Service.

Evaluation of this procurement will consist of an independent evaluation followed by consensus meetings.

The current timescales for procurement are as follows:

  • publication of find a tender notice (FTS): July 2025
  • evaluation period: September 2025
  • consensus: October 2025
  • award: January 2026

Volunteers will be required to attend a short training call before taking on the role of evaluator (maximum 2 hours) and will be provided with the necessary tools and information.

Evaluators will need to have commercial experience, experience in a specialism covered under the lots on the agreement, such as courier, logistics and warehousing and/or knowledge of these markets. 

If you are interested in getting involved, please register your interest by emailing  info@crowncommercial.gov.uk and quoting RM6354 in the subject line.

New green energy agreement launched, offering price stability for sustainable power across UK public sector

A new commercial agreement from Crown Commercial Service (CCS), entitled the Provision of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), gives central government and wider public sector organisations direct access to UK-based renewable energy and competitive long-term contracts with suppliers.

Procured under PCR 2015, the innovative agreement offers a unique combination of renewable energy sourcing, long-term fixed pricing, and UK-based supply security that has never been available at this scale. This is a significant step forward in supporting public sector organisations to meet their net-zero targets while providing wider access to the market and greater budget certainty. 

The agreement went live on 15 April 2025 and will be in place for 4 years.

What are Power Purchase Agreements?

Corporate PPAs are long-term power contracts between customers and suppliers that allow for the purchase of agreed volumes of green energy directly from renewable generators for a fixed period. Renewable generation may come from various sources, such as onshore and offshore wind turbines and solar PV farms.

John Welch, Commercial Director – Estates at Crown Commercial Service, explains:

This new agreement represents an important step forward in our commitment to supporting public sector organisations in meeting their sustainability goals while securing predictable energy costs. By enabling access to a UK-based renewable energy supply through long-term contracts, we’re helping the public sector reduce its environmental impact and contribute to the government’s net-zero ambitions.

Sustainable energy solutions with predictable, long-term pricing

Market intelligence gathered has shown the need for CCS customers to have access to greener energy with a clear, concise route to market. This new agreement gives CCS customers and the wider public sector direct access to green electricity with price certainty, protecting them from market volatility while accelerating progress towards net zero targets. 

The agreement creates significant value for the nation, providing energy security, economic efficiency, market innovation, and carbon reduction. 

For example, by focusing on UK-based renewable assets, this agreement strengthens national energy independence, reducing our reliance on imported energy. The agreement will also support the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. Encouraging innovation in the renewable energy sector advances the UK’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050.  

As a result, customers using the new agreement will benefit from:

  • access to UK-based renewable energy assets
  • competitive rates 
  • fixed-term pricing options, allowing for more efficient budgeting and future cost estimation
  • a simplified procurement process that provides access to call-off contract terms aligned with the PPA market
  • support toward net zero targets

Find out more

To learn more about the new Provision of Power Purchase Agreement framework, please visit the agreement page or contact the Service Desk at info@gca.gov.uk or 0345 410 2222.

Changes to our agreements in March

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 March

No agreements were awarded in March.

Agreements extended in March

No agreements were extended in March.

Agreements that expired in March

Agreements due to expire in the next 3 months

Further information

If you need further details about any of these agreements 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? fill in this short form.

New workplace recycling rules in England: what suppliers need to know

The government’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms were rolled out in March, introducing new requirements for businesses, local authorities, and households to ensure a more consistent approach to waste and recycling across England.

The new rules aim to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill or for incineration and promote the circular economy. The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. These are key elements of CCS’s Sustainability strategy for helping the public sector achieve its Carbon Net Zero (CNZ) goals.

What’s changing?

From 31 March, workplaces with 10 or more employees will need to arrange for the collection of the following: 

  • dry recyclable materials – including plastic, metal, glass, and paper and card 
  • food waste  
  • residual (non-recyclable) waste

Workplaces will need to separate paper and card from the other dry recyclables unless their waste collector collects them together. They will also have the freedom to decide on the size of containers and frequency of collections based on the volume of waste they produce.   

Workplaces with fewer than 10 employees have until 31 March 2027 to arrange for the recycling of the core recyclable waste streams.   

Who is affected?

Any business or workplace premises that generate waste that is similar in nature and composition to household waste must follow these rules across their operations (including for example, staff kitchens). This includes all relevant non-domestic premises, such as: 

  • offices 
  • retail and wholesale 
  • transport and storage 
  • hospitality, such as cafes, restaurants, and hotels 
  • places of education, such as schools, colleges, and universities 
  • healthcare places, such as GP surgeries and hospitals 
  • care homes  
  • charities and those registered as charities  

This is not a complete list and there are others. If you are unsure if the rules apply to your business, you can check the legislation.  

Why is it important? 

Simplifying the approach will mean more high-quality recycled material can be sourced domestically, which can then be used by manufacturers to make new products as part of the transition to a more circular economy.  

This will reduce carbon emissions, cut environmental and societal impacts from waste disposal, and support growth of the UK reprocessing industry. 

Alongside extended producer responsibility for packaging and the deposit return scheme for drinks containers, Simpler Recycling in England is estimated to deliver greenhouse gas emissions savings equivalent to £11.8 billion and make a significant contribution towards meeting the ambition to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035. 

Find out more

The official Defra guidance is available on the gov.uk website.

The recycling not-for-profit business WRAP has produced a comprehensive guide. Visit the WRAP England website here.

Public sector organisations affected can find solutions to their waste recycling and other sustainability needs in CCS commercial procurement agreements. Find a carbon net zero solution with our new Sustainable Solutions Finder tool on the CCS website.

 

What suppliers need to know about Technical Ability Certificates (TAC)

In this article, Lucy McCormack, Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) SME Champion, provides guidance on Technical Ability Certificates (TACs) and explains how small and medium-sized enterprises can successfully complete the certification process to work with the public sector.

Setting SMEs up for commercial success

CCS supports SMEs to understand and navigate public sector procurement requirements, helping them achieve commercial success while recognising the challenges they face in this process.

One aspect of public sector procurement that is necessary for SMEs to understand is the assessment of ‘conditions of participation’, which a supplier must satisfy in order to be awarded a public contract.

Conditions of participation must be a proportionate means of ensuring suppliers have the technical, legal and financial capacity to perform the contract. Typically, CCS assesses suppliers’ technical ability through the use of Technical Ability Certificates (TACs)* (Previously known as Certificates of Technical and Professional Ability under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015).

Under the Procurement Act 2023, contracting authorities must have regard to barriers that may exist for SMEs and consider if they can be removed, TACs help achieve this by simplifying and streamlining the approach to technical ability assessment to make participation more accessible. 

What are Technical Ability Certificates and why does CCS use them in the procurement process?

Technical Ability Certificates are one part of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) which will fulfil a similar role to the Standard Selection Questionnaire used under PCR 2015. PSQs ensure Contracting Authorities receive the necessary supplier information regarding conditions of participation, as well as exclusion and debarment information. TACs are backwards looking, considering the experience bidders have of delivering services within the scope of the contract or Lot(s) they are bidding for. 

To reduce risk, it is important that only suppliers with the necessary technical ability, as demonstrated by past performance in the delivery of contracts, are selected to bid for contracts. By verifying technical ability upfront, procurement teams can minimise the chance of selecting a supplier who lacks the necessary expertise to deliver the required quality.

As part of the PSQ, for most procurements, CCS requests that bidders complete and upload one or more TACs. The scope of the services and criteria that must be met is clearly detailed within section A of each certificate. Occasionally, a procurement may not require TACs, if CCS decides not to use them.

The purpose of a TAC is to help CCS assess potential suppliers’ suitability for contract requirements.  TACs are used to confirm suppliers have completed certain work, and met certain requirements, to the satisfaction of the buyer. This gives confidence in their ability. 

How has CCS made completing Technical Ability Certificates easier for SMEs?

The completion of TACs is streamlined to make it easier for SMEs to participate in government procurement opportunities. Recognising that smaller organisations often lack resource compared to larger organisations, the process is designed to reduce complexity and administrative burden.

For example, rather than providing extensive contract details, bidders typically only need to review Section A of the TAC and confirm their service delivery through a simple tick-box approach. To further ease the process, bidders can often reuse the same customer contract example, depending on the unique needs of the agreement, across different Lots when bidding for multiple opportunities. This helps SMEs who are bidding for multiple lots as they won’t need to find additional contract examples, requiring additional customer signatures.

The scope for acceptable contract evidence is broad. Bidders can often submit examples from public, private, or third sector work. The timeframe for contract examples is also often flexible, typically allowing evidence from contracts delivered within 3 years prior to the tender notice publication. It is sometimes acceptable for the project to have commenced earlier than 3 years prior to the publication of the contract notice, particularly if this would restrict competitions.

Additionally, organisations can sometimes use a contract that they are currently delivering that has been running for at least 6 months.

Further flexibility has been introduced by sometimes accepting contract examples where the bidder served in various capacities – as a prime contractor, key subcontractor, or consortium member. 

What are the steps SMEs need to take to complete the certification process

To complete the Technical Ability Certificate,  suppliers must complete Section A, providing contract details such as customer name, contract title, contract start and end date and tick a box to confirm that they have provided the full scope of service elements detailed in the TAC to the customer. This is followed by customer verifying that the information provided is true and accurate, by completing and signing Section B of the Technical Ability Certificate.

Finally, each TAC undergoes a compliance check against procurement questionnaire requirements, leading to either a PASS/FAIL mark as outlined in the Marking Scheme.

SME tips for TAC success

Incomplete or unverifiable submissions are the most common causes of disqualification. To help you succeed with your TAC submissions, here are 5 top tips:

  1. read the instructions in the procurement specific questionnaire and the TAC itself carefully to understand what you need to complete and by when.
  2. make sure you complete all of the information requested in the TAC and tick the box to confirm you have provided the full scope of the Services detailed in Section A. Each agreement has unique needs. Ensure your chosen contract example aligns with the specific deliverables required by the lot you’re bidding for
  3. choose a customer that is prepared to verify the information you have provided within a reasonable timespan and be contactable in the event that clarification is required
  4. if subcontractors and/or consortia delivered part of the contract being evidenced, bidders must tell CCS who they were and describe the function that each such other entity performed under the contract
  5. if you are relying on the capacity of another entity e.g. a proposed key-subcontractor to demonstrate technical ability, then they should be named as the supplier

Find out more

For further support on TACs for any CCS procurement, please email info@crowncommercial.gov.uk and entitle your query “TAC query for [name of procurement]. If you require further information when bidding on a CCS procurement please follow the instructions for clarification questions in the published Bid Pack.

To learn more about how CCS is levelling the playing field for suppliers of all sizes, download our digital brochure.

We always welcome feedback, suggestions or queries. These can be submitted to smefeedback@crowncommercial.gov.uk

*Please note that suppliers must refer to the bid pack for the procurement they are bidding for, as the rules set out in the bid pack will take precedence over this guidance.  

How CCS is supporting SME involvement in public sector AI procurement

Earlier this year, the Government announced its decision to take forward all recommendations set out in the independent report ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’, commissioned by Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The purpose of the plan is to ‘ramp up’ Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption across the UK in order to boost economic growth, provide jobs for the future and improve people’s everyday lives. The recommendations, it is hoped, will encourage the responsible adoption of AI across all sectors of the UK economy, with the public sector leading the way. 

Benefits of AI for the public sector

The use of AI within the public sector offers significant benefits through cutting administrative costs, speeding up processes and achieving more efficient services for citizens. The government has already identified the potential for large-scale productivity gains from the adoption of AI across the sector. It has already launched a new package of AI tools – nicknamed ‘Humphrey’ – available to civil servants in an effort to modernise tech and achieve better public services.

AI is already transforming public services by automating repetitive tasks and increasing efficiency across sectors. For example, in education AI helps teachers reduce time spent on lesson planning and marking. Healthcare professionals benefit from AI-assisted report drafting and medical diagnostics, with the Department for Health and Social Care specifically deploying AI for faster lung cancer detection through chest X-rays and CT scans. Police forces are responsibly implementing automated threat and anomaly detection systems. These AI applications are significantly reducing workload for public sector employees while improving service provision across education, healthcare, and law enforcement.

Despite the clear benefits however, there are many challenges to implementing AI solutions effectively across the public sector. These include concerns about data privacy and security, limited technical expertise, budget limitations, and a general hesitation to embrace new technologies that could potentially raise ethical issues, especially when dealing with sensitive citizen data. 

Why SMEs are critical in AI adoption within the public sector 

SMEs make up an essential component of the private sector business landscape. According to the 2022 Business Population Estimates there were almost 5.5 million businesses in the UK at the start of 2022. SMEs accounted for 99.9% of the total number. Importantly SMEs employed 61% of the private sector workforce which was 16.4 million employees. They also earned 51% of the turnover in the UK private sector. Put simply, SMEs are the backbone of any healthy economy: they drive growth, provide employment opportunities and open new markets.

SMEs are critical in AI adoption within the public sector.  Whether acting as a bridge between large-scale AI development and the specific needs of local communities or offering niche and specialist services to Government departments, their role is crucial. They can often provide tailored solutions and have specialist skills or products that are more cost-effective, agile and responsive to diverse government departmental and public sector challenges. 

SMEs can offer several advantages when providing AI solutions for the public sector, depending on the specific SME and their understanding of AI ethics and implementation practices. For example, they can often provide a more personalised level of customer support, crucial for public sector organisations with limited technical expertise and for building trust and understanding. SMEs are often considered to be better at innovation than larger corporations due to their agility, faster decision-making processes, and a greater willingness to take risks, allowing them to quickly adapt to changing public sector requirements, which is ideal for tighter timescales.

Other advantages can include:

  • having specialised expertise and knowledge that enables development of targeted applications in areas like healthcare and education
  • ability to provide more cost-effective solutions and take on smaller projects, because of their leaner structures and lower overhead costs
  • willingness to more actively engage with and contribute to the local community around them, matching local needs and achieving social value benefits
  • their business model typically involves managing smaller data sets, potentially reducing privacy concerns compared to larger companies

Barriers to public sector procurement for SMEs 

Despite the many benefits SMEs offer to public sector contractors, historically SMEs have faced a range of barriers in accessing public sector procurement opportunities. 

These barriers include but are not limited to: 

  • contracting authorities being unaware of SMEs and the types of goods and services they can potentially provide
  • SMEs viewing the procurement process, often rightly, as overly bureaucratic
  • SMEs not having the capacity or resource to bid for opportunities and compete with large businesses, for example no dedicated bid teams
  • the procurement process often assigning a higher weighting to cost, therefore lessening the ability of SMEs to demonstrate their wider value

As part of the recent change to procurement regulation following the Procurement Act 2023, contracting authorities now have a duty to consider the barriers facing SMEs and how to mitigate and remove these, wherever possible, with the aim of opening up procurement to SMEs and social enterprises.

How CCS is supporting SME involvement in public sector AI procurement

SMEs have always been a key component of the commercial agreements we create. This has been driven in part by the Government’s aspirations to increase spending with SMEs. CCS also recognises that SMEs bring greater diversity to supply chains and, more broadly, the economy, when successful in winning business.

One of the ways we aim to support SMEs is through our Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPSs), which offer the ability for suppliers to self-certify making joining quick and simple at any point through the life of the DPS and reducing procurement times. For example, a simple procurement can be initiated in just 10 days, significantly shorter than more traditional procurements which can often take months. In addition, there is no limit to the number of suppliers that can join the DPS as long as they meet the selection criteria and accept the terms and conditions of the DPS, offering buyers unrestricted access to smaller suppliers. All DPS tenders are competitive and each appropriate supplier has a chance of winning.

AI solutions for the UK public sector

Specifically, our AI DPS offers all public sector organisations, including local authorities, the health sector, Bluelight, Culture Sport & Travel and charities a range of commercial solutions provided by suppliers of all sizes to support with realising the opportunities and reducing the risks presented by data analytics & AI. 

All suppliers on the agreement need to identify ethical considerations in relation to data limitations, fairness and bias. They need to demonstrate how the skills, qualifications and diversity of teams developing and deploying AI have been considered, and ensure the outputs of the AI technology are transparent and explainable to a non-expert audience. They also need to be able to describe how data will be protected and set out the level of human decision-making at critical points.

The DPS includes a set of capability filters which have recently been updated to connect buyers and suppliers together easily and to make it easier for customers to find the right solution to ensure better efficiencies in their organisations. Having additional filters allows SMEs to specify their capabilities more closely and buyers to filter the supplier list view with additional ease, to make it easier for them to find the right supplier. This saves time and creates value throughout the Public Sector. CCS experts are readily available to ensure the experience of using the AI DPS is as easy and smooth as possible.

SME spend through the AI DPS equates to over 50% of total spend through the DPS and is growing year on year.

Book your place on our AI and SME Opportunities in the Public Sector – (Virtual) Event

CCS is committed to supporting SMEs in accessing public sector AI procurement opportunities. To help businesses navigate the landscape, we are hosting a series of 3 webinars designed to provide insights, guidance and practical steps for SMEs looking to engage with public sector AI projects.

The sessions will cover key topics such as the role of SMEs in public sector procurement, an introduction to the AI Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), the Government’s AI Strategy, and success stories from SMEs already working in the sector. These webinars will provide valuable information on how to register on the AI DPS and bid to be awarded a place on a future framework. There will also be the opportunity for attendees to ask questions and share insights into the challenges they face.

These webinars will take place on the following dates:

  • April 22nd – 14:00 – 15:30
  • May 21st – 13:00 – 14:30

All sessions will be held virtually, SMEs can register their interest and sign up on GoToWebinar

Find out more 

The new AI Playbook for Government, supported and co-authored by CCS, offers guidance on using AI safely, effectively and securely for civil servants and people working in government organisations.

For more information download our guide to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for buyers. 

Changes to our agreements in February

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 February

Agreements extended in February

Agreements that expired in February

No agreements expired in February.

Agreements due to expire in the next 3 months

Further information

If you need further details about any of these agreements 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? fill in this short form.

How we can support you to promote your place on an agreement

Being awarded a place as a supplier on a GCA (formerly CCS) agreement is a great opportunity to promote your organisation to new and existing public sector customers.

By issuing effective communications on your new supplier status you can make public sector customers aware of what you offer through our agreements, helping you to win new contracts, increase your revenue, enhance your reputation and grow your organisation.

How can GCA help with your supplier communications?

GCA is here to help you promote your position as a GCA supplier. We can support you in a number of ways.

We have created a dedicated marketing toolkit for you to use when crafting your communications, which provides useful resources to help you correctly communicate what being a GCA supplier means and the products and services you can offer. This toolkit may be provided to you as part of your agreement award documentation but is otherwise available via the GCA website, and contains advice on how to use our supplier logos and what information to include within your press release.

When you promote yourself as a GCA supplier, you are also promoting the GCA agreement through which you are supplying. With that in mind, we ask that any press releases, social media posts, website publications or other communications you produce that reference GCA or your place on a GCA agreement are reviewed by our press team prior to distribution or publication.

Supplier communications can be sent directly to the GCA press team at at pressoffice@gca.gov.uk. We ask that you please allow a minimum of 48 hours for approval on communications materials once submitted for review.

Do you have a success story that you’d like to tell?

The toolkit also contains advice on how you can produce useful case studies that highlight your success stories, demonstrate the services you offer and your experience in your market, as this can help secure new and repeat business for your organisation.

Any case studies you produce should be shared with GCA through your account manager in the draft stage, and they will work with you to finalise this for publication. You can find examples of previous case studies on our website.

Top tips for your supplier communications

Here are our 5 top tips to help you position your messaging correctly and get the most out of your communications.

Don’t be afraid to promote yourself

It sounds obvious, but as an organisation that has been awarded a place on a GCA agreement, you now have a chance to use your communication channels to shout about what you’ve achieved and to win public sector business.

We encourage you and will support you to make the most of the opportunity to put yourself in front of potential customers. Simply being a supplier on an agreement does not guarantee you will win contracts – it is important to capitalise on the chance to demonstrate your expertise to the public sector.

Include our descriptive paragraph in your materials

As part of the toolkit, we provide a paragraph explaining who GCA is and how we operate. We ask that all suppliers include this paragraph in the main body of their marketing materials.

We ask this because it raises awareness of the commercial benefits we achieve for the public sector through our agreements.

We also include a set of contact details to be included in the ‘Notes to Editors’ section of any press releases issued by suppliers.

Avoid common pitfalls

When we receive communications materials from suppliers, there are a number of common errors that occur regularly. These are easy to avoid, and can save the need for changes to be made during the review process which avoids holding the process up for you.

The common mistakes you can avoid include:

  • not including the full title of the agreement you have been awarded to and its RM reference code – customers need to know how to find the right agreement to buy from
  • not specifying the Lot(s) you have been awarded to – if you make clear which Lots you are on, it is easier for buyers to find you
  • saying you have been ‘selected’, ‘endorsed’ or ‘chosen’ as a supplier or referencing scores in the tender process – this implies you have been chosen above other potential suppliers due to competitive factors. Once awarded, all GCA suppliers are considered equal

A fuller list of ‘dos and don’ts’ when communicating as a GCA supplier is available within the toolkit.

Don’t forget to use our supplier logo

We have produced a logo specifically for use by our suppliers to advertise their supplier status.

This logo can be used on a variety of physical and digital materials, including (but not limited to) business cards, webpages, email signatures and event stands.

Our marketing toolkit provides clear guidance around the correct use of our branding and logos, as well as a number of versions of the logo in different sizes and resolutions for you to use.

Find out more

Further information and resources created specifically for suppliers can be found through our dedicated webpage.

We always welcome feedback, suggestions or queries. These can be submitted to smefeedback@gca.gov.uk.