All Learning Content
New Swiss Government Procurement Laws: It is Parliament’s turn
Oct 17, 2017
New Swiss Government Procurement Laws: It is Parliament’s turn
Swiss public procurement law has gained a lot of momentum. After the Federal administration was shaken by various $ multi-million procurement scandals, both Cantonal and Federal Governments have now started their projects for the...
Why Public Sector Procurement Consolidation Won’t Take Forever
Oct 15, 2017
A few weeks ago another UK public sector body, Fastershire (a partnership between Gloucestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council, backed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport), began implementing a major new combined agreement – this one with Gigaclear, a rural Internet Services...
EC Call for Innovation Procurement Broker
Oct 13, 2017
Earlier this month the European Commission launched a call for an Innovation Procurement Broker to develop and implement a sustainable method to facilitate public procurement of innovation (PPI), with a special focus on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency within the European Single...
Serious Questions About NDA’s Understanding of Procurement Regulations
Oct 13, 2017
This is a complex story and the full ‘trail’ can be found on the NAO website. To outline: The UK National Audit Office has issued a report around the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s handling of a decommissioning contract. The NDA ran a competitive procurement exercise for decommissioning...
SmallGovCon Week In Review: October 9-13, 2017
Oct 13, 2017
My heart rate has finally come down after the exciting finish to Game Five of the Cubs-Nationals playoff series last night. I caught the first few innings waiting for my flight in Salt Lake City, and the game (which clocked in at more than 4 1/2 hours) was still going when I landed in Kansas...
Wrong File Format? No Problem, Says GAO (At Least This Time)
Oct 13, 2017
Ahh, fall. A time for football, hay rides, and returning to campus. Being in a college town, we are always reminded that students are back on campus due to the increased traffic, the homecoming parade, and the increased buzz (no pun intended) around the town. The onset of fall sometimes dredges up...
A Successful Public Sector Procurement Transformation Story
Oct 12, 2017
It makes a nice change to actually report on a public sector ‘good news’ story. This one in particular is a successful procurement transformation story in the UK Blue Light, or emergency services, sector. It was undertaken by Mike Fairbotham, Associate Director of Procurement and Logistics at...
UK’s The Food Marketplace Helps Producers Supply to Public Sector
Oct 12, 2017
DEFRA – the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs – has launched The Food Marketplace, a platform for buyers and suppliers of food to source and advertise products and services. The aim is to connect producers, suppliers and caterers with public sector buyers. The portal...
Will Contractors Be Required to Pay Protest Fees?
Oct 12, 2017
Language in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act could have a significant impact on the bid protest landscape for years to come. If approved as written, the language would effectively require large contractors with revenues in excess of $100 million to pay the Department of...
Price Verification – ‘Basic Function or Lost Art’
Oct 11, 2017
When making a purchase using a State, Federal or Cooperative contract, or even a purchase off a public agency’s own contract, that is based on a percent discount off a manufacturers list price; are public agencies performing the extensive due diligence necessary to ensure they are being charged...
NAO on Commercial & Contract Management – “Understand Suppliers’ Motivation”
Oct 11, 2017
At the end of last year, the UK’s National Audit Office issued a very useful document titled “Commercial and contract management: insights and emerging best practice”. We did provide an initial overview of it here, and now we are into a more detailed review of its content and findings. For...
Technological and Digital Procurement Category Strategy
Oct 10, 2017
The Local Government Association of the UK issued a comprehensive category strategy guide for purchasing technology products and services. In the foreword to the document, Theo Blackwell, cabinet member for finance, technology and growth at the London Borough of Camden, said: “‘Digital is...
