janetroberts's blog

RoundUP - Aspects of successful tendering from July 2010

Following the General Election in May of this year, it has become very clear that public purchasing will contract significantly over the coming months. For example the total national spending on social care in 2009 was £18 billion, the plan is to reduce this by at least £4 billion to no more than £14 billion over the coming year (Ref. OGC). If tendering was competitive in 2009, it is significantly more so now with the standards required of a successful tender being raised considerably from July 2010.

Difficulties Ahead for Large Charities

How is a new Government likely to treat procurement and tendering?

In our role as an independent, non-campaigning company, TfC has looked at the manifestos of four parties and set out what they say.

Procurement is driven by European legislation, so we have also set out how the manifestos describe their policies are with regard to Europe.

Whether or not the new government will comply with their manifesto promises will be revealed in time. This document is intended provide a general idea of the direction which a new government is likely to take.

ISO 9001:2008 - Facts and Fallacies

Much confusion remains regarding the value certification of the Management and Environmental Management Standards in Tendering. There is also confusion as to what a Certification Comapany is, where accreditation fits and how to select a suitable company or organsation to provide the certificate. This paper sets out to address the facts and fallacies abouding in this area, and to advise what to look for when choosing a a route to certification.

RoundUp Extra

This special issue of RoundUp contains the thresholds for the advertisement of tenders in the Official journal of the European Union for the two year period commencing on 01.01.09.

Due Diligence for Tendering

There are a number of aspects of Due Diligence which are important for those involved in the tendering process:

1) Tendering and procurement may be perceived as a highly structured due diligence exercise, indeed we are now seeing requirements included in tender documents such as

.......to provide full details, including timings of all due diligence to be conducted prior to the award of the contract"...

A Qualification for Tendering

Whether you are a charity, a small busines or and an umbrella body then the new TaPP qualification can bring tremendous benefits to your business of organisation.

The Handy Guide to Tendering and Procurement

Between 1st January 2007 and 31st December 2010, almost 9,000 people have attended training courses delivered by TfC. These have included over 250 at events delivered on behalf of NAVCA and a similar number at events delivered on behalf of the DWP and DH. A review of feedback forms showed that more than 8% would like a short"handy guide" to the principles which underpin tendering and procurement. This has been requested for various groups which include:

Trustees of Charities;

GPs;

Practice Managers;

Health Professionals;

Performance and Guarantee Bonds

These instruments appear to be causing consternation in some parts of the third and voluntary sector. We understand that apparently one CVS attempted to challenge the inclusion of the requirement for a Performance Bond in the tendering process. We have received a number of queries as to what these instruments are and how they work. The attached document sets out what these Bonds are, why they are used, what they mean for providers and recommended actions for providers tendering for public sector contracts.

Working in a Consortium and TfC 12 Golden Rules

The Guide to "Working in a Consortium" was published by the Cabinet Office on 11th December 2008. The Guide can be downloaded from the link below.

Tendering For Care

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