Public Procurement and Property

Collaborative frameworks update: December 2023

December 21, 2023 by Ray Knox No Comments | Category contracts, framework agreements, Procurement news, Scottish Procurement

Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate’s, National Collaborative Procurement Division (NCPD) administers the Scottish national collaborative frameworks and contracts for the whole of the Scottish Public Sector, as well as agreements that can be accessed by central government organisations of the Scottish Government.

Their portfolio of commercial agreements includes utilities, ICT (information, computing and technology), corporate and professional services, supported businesses and construction – from 2024. They are also responsible for the procurement of innovation.

This is an update on the national collaborative frameworks and contracts we offer to public sector buyers in Scotland.

Collaborative Frameworks for the provision of Temporary & Interim Staff Services

Four individual, Category A (National) multi-supplier Frameworks for the provision of Temporary and Interim Staff Services commenced on 13 April 2023 for a maximum period of 4 years to 12 April 2027:

• Interim Professional Staff Services – National (all of Scotland)
• Interim IT Staff Services – National (all of Scotland)
• Temporary Admin, Catering & Manual Staff Services – South Region
• Temporary Admin, Catering & Manual Staff Services – North Region

Further information on these frameworks is available here.

Collaborative Framework for the provision of Legal Services

A new Category B (Central Government) multi-lot, multi-supplier framework for the provision of Legal Services commenced on 1 September 2023 for a maximum period of 4 years to 31 August 2027.

Further information on this framework is available here.

Collaborative Framework for the provision of UK & International Domestic Relocation Services

The current Category B+ (Central Government plus others) framework for the provision of UK & International Domestic Relocation Services is due to expire on 31 March 2024.

Further information on this framework is available here.

NOTE:  A decision has been taken not to renew this Framework upon expiry. This is a reminder to all existing users, who have previously been informed of this decision.

Call-off contracts awarded under the current framework can continue until their individual expiry dates (including where these post-date framework expiry) and may be extended where an option to extend exists. New call-off contracts can also be awarded under the existing framework, if awarded prior to the expiry date.

For the avoidance of doubt, no new call-off contracts can be awarded under this framework after the expiry date. Framework users with new requirements (post expiry) should make their own contractual arrangements in accordance and compliance with public sector procurement regulations and individual organisation’s procurement policies and procedures, where applicable.

HCR Ltd (the current framework supplier) has been informed of the decision not to re-let this Framework and may be in contact with those organisations who currently access their services to determine future needs.

Collaborative Framework for the provision of Postal Services

A Category A (National) dual-lot, dual-supplier framework for the provision of Postal Services commenced on 1 July 2021 for a maximum period of 4 years to 30 June 2025.

Further information on this framework can be found here.

Postal Price Increases – The Postal Services framework terms allow for price reviews aligned to the date at which Royal Mail retail price increases take effect. Due to market conditions and a need to cover huge increases in costs, Ofcom, who regulate Royal Mail, endorsed bringing this year’s price increase forward to October 2023. Scottish Procurement has previously issued a communication to framework users via the Procurement Centres of Expertise (CoEs), for wider dissemination as appropriate, confirming the increase and providing details of the new tariffs.

Revised Pricing Schedules have been uploaded within the Framework Agreement documentation, including full terms & conditions available from the Knowledge Hub.

Marketing Services (2022)

This new Category A Framework commenced on 1 September 2022. 26 unique suppliers were appointed to the 32 places across 6 Lots on the Framework:

• Creative Services >£50k (Lot 1),
• Creative Services <£50k (Lot 2),
• Digital Marketing Services (Lot 3),
• PR Services (Lot 4),
• Market Research Services (Lot 5),
• Events and Video Production Services (Lot 6).

Initial contracts meetings were held with all suppliers.

Further information and a buyers guide can be found here.

Media Planning, Buying and Associated Services

This Category A framework for Media Planning, Buying and Associated Services is due to expire on 31 December 2023. The procurement exercise is underway and we aim to award the new framework in time to commence on 1 January 2024.

Recruitment Advertising & Public Information Notices

This Category A framework for Recruitment Advertising & Public Information Notices is due to expire on 10 July 2024. The development phase for the re-let has commenced, a PIN was issued mid November 2023 and responses received to our Request For Information. Framework public bodies are requested to advise upon their interest in participating in a User Intelligence Group for this procurement exercise. A User Intelligence Group Meeting will be called January 2024.

Print & Associated Services (2023)

The new Category A Print Framework for Print and Associated Services was placed on 1 May 2023. Thirteen suppliers were appointed to the two Lots on the Framework for Litho/Digital/Web (Lot 1) and Specimen Bags (Lot 3) respectively. No award was made on Lot 2; therefore Lot 2 of the previous framework was extended to 31 October 2023 to allow call-offs for Specimen Bags to be concluded and has now expired. Initial contracts meetings have been held with all suppliers.

Further information is available here.

Publishing, Print, Design & Associated Services (PPDAS) 2018

The optional 2-year extension option has been taken up for this Category A framework for Procurement – publishing, print and design (PPDAS) is now due to expire on 30 September 2025. Work on a re-let is due to commence imminently. Framework Public Bodies are requested to advise upon their interest in participating in a User Intelligence Group for this procurement exercise.

National Framework Agreement for the Provision of General Office Supplies

A new framework for the provision of general office supplies has recently been awarded to Lyreco UK Ltd. The framework commenced on 1 July 2023 for a period of 4 years and replaces both the current General Stationery and Office Paper framework and the IT Consumables framework, both of which expired on 30 June 2023. The General Office Supplies framework is available to all Scottish public bodies including third sector bodies.

Mobile Voice and Data

Scottish Procurement has concluded a single supplier framework agreement with Vodafone Ltd for the provision of mobile voice and data services. The framework will provide Scottish public sector organisations with access to a wide range of services and support including:

• voice and short messaging service (SMS)
• data services including individual, aggregated, shared and unlimited data options
• international calls and data
• mobile devices and accessories via a public sector device catalogue
• Wi-Fi calling
• lone and remote worker services

The framework provides excellent value for money with savings of around 50% on core voice and data services against previous framework rates and utilises Vodafone’s Public Sector Traveller (PST) service which allows users to take their UK allowance when travelling in overseas locations (where PST is available).

Desktop Client Devices

A Desktop client device framework was established on 1 September 2023. The single-supplier framework was awarded to the incumbent supplier HP Inc. and includes the device types listed below plus a range of deployment services, upgrades, downgrades and accessories.

• corporate desktop PCs
• flat panel monitors
• fixed workstations

The framework provides Scottish public sector bodies with excellent value for money with devices priced significantly below current market rates. Devices are specified to include the Global Electronics Council’s latest EPEAT energy efficiency and environmental accreditation standards.

Cloud and Hosting Services

A framework for Cloud and Hosting Services commenced on 1 November 2023. This multi-supplier framework was awarded to five suppliers. The following services are available to Scottish public sector organisations under the framework:

• public cloud
• private cloud
• co-location
• hybrid cloud
• community cloud
• cloud transition services

All services will be delivered within the European Economic Area and can host data with a security classification of “top secret”.

Software Value Added Reseller (SVAR)

A single-supplier framework for the provision of Software Value Added Reseller services has been awarded to Computacenter. The framework provides excellent value for money through a structured discount model and provides Scottish public sector organisations with access to a wide range of software applications and services including:

• commercial off the shelf software (COTS) i.e. software which is generally available and does not require development
• annual maintenance services for purchased software including the ability to “upgrade” to the most current version of the software at no additional cost
• software support, implementation and configuration services
• asset recording of purchased software
• warranty support
• aggregation of bulk software purchases
• management and administration of price competitions between software options to identify further savings
• pre and post-sales advice and support relating to the suitability, application and deployment of software and licenses
• maintenance of software licence records through asset management, software audit and data migration services
• consultancy services

National Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the Provision of Requirements Reserved Supported Businesses

The dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for the provision of requirements reserved for supported businesses was activated on 7 September 2023 for a 2-year period. The key aim of the Requirements Reserved for Supported Businesses DPS is to provide Scottish Public Sector and Third Sector Bodies (Framework Public Bodies) with a clear path for the purchase of goods and services from Supported Businesses and in doing so, support the integration of disabled and disadvantaged citizens into the mainstream workforce. Supported businesses are organisations whose main aim is to integrate disabled or disadvantaged people socially and professionally.

The DPS is available to all Scottish public bodies including third sector bodies.

Civil Engineering Framework (Scotland) – live procurement process  

The Civil Engineering Framework will be a multi-lot framework:

• Lot 1: general civil engineering for projects over £5m up to £25m;
• Lot 2: structural civil engineering for projects over £5m up to £25m
• Lot 3: all civil engineering for projects over £25m up to £100m.

It is envisaged that we will have six framework suppliers for Lot 1, six for Lot 2 and four for Lot 3. The framework agreement and subsequent Work Orders (contracts) – awarded via mini-competition – will be on NEC4 Terms and Conditions incorporating additional clauses.

Evaluations are now complete. We will issue standstill letters no later than January 2024, with the Framework going ‘live’ in March 2024.

Civil Engineering DPS (Scotland) – in development  

The Civil Engineering DPS will be for any civils projects up to £5m and will complement the Civils Framework. The Centres of Expertise (CoEs) and the Civils UIG have noted/endorsed, respectively, the Procurement Strategy. The DPS will use a filtering process, based on i) type of works; ii) location; & iii) project value to generate a tender list for each competition.

Finalisation of the Contract Notice is on hold as we focus resources on the Civils Framework. More updates will follow in Q1 of 2024.

Additional information

In October 2023, Bridget Lambert joined the team as the new Head of Collaborative procurement. Bridget was formerly the Procurement Manager in Renfrewshire Council and prior to that was with Scotland Excel and is looking forward to meeting with as many of our public sector partners as possible over the coming months.

If you have any questions for Bridget or would like to set up some time for a chat about our division, please contact scottishprocurement@gov.scot

Tags: collaborative procurement, Dynamic Purchasing System, frameworks, Scottish Procurement

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