Government 'lacks capability' to address longstanding digital procurement issues
06 Jun Commercial

Government 'lacks capability' to address longstanding digital procurement issues

Public Accounts Committee warns of “an insufficient level of digital commercial skills across departments”
by Tevye Markson
DSIT building 'one-stop tech shop' for public sector procurement
09 Jun Commercial
DSIT building 'one-stop tech shop' for public sector procurement
If the government is serious about closing the SME gap, it must go beyond ticking boxes and embrace structural change
29 May Commercial
If the government is serious about closing the SME gap, it must go beyond ticking boxes and embrace structural change
Home Office seeks 'AI infrastructure delivery partner'
28 May Commercial
Home Office seeks 'AI infrastructure delivery partner'
MoD seeks external race adviser to improve diversity – but fails to fill post Exclusive
06 Apr 2022 Commercial
MoD seeks external race adviser to improve diversity – but fails to fill post
Ministry of Defence says it wants to “learn from others” on D&I, but tender failed to attract suitable bids
Departments told to review contracts with Russian suppliers
29 Mar 2022 Commercial
Departments told to review contracts with Russian suppliers
Public bodies urged to find ways to "sever their commercial ties to Russia" – but guidance show the action they can take is limited
DHSC bought £122m PPE from Tory peer-linked firm 'for almost three times manufacturing fee'
28 Mar 2022 Commercial
DHSC bought £122m PPE from Tory peer-linked firm 'for almost three times manufacturing fee'
The 25 million gowns were never used after failing an inspection
The NHS workforce plan: the Godot of public policy?
22 Mar 2022 Commercial
The NHS workforce plan: the Godot of public policy?
Workforce shortages and an end to free lateral flow testing are just some of the issues giving our health columnist a headache
DfT to review contracts with P&O Ferries after company sacks 800 staff
18 Mar 2022 Commercial
DfT to review contracts with P&O Ferries after company sacks 800 staff
Decision is "wholly unacceptable", minister says, as firm faces call to repay furlough cash
DHSC looks to extend shelf life of expired pandemic PPE Exclusive
16 Mar 2022 Commercial
DHSC looks to extend shelf life of expired pandemic PPE
Lab appointed to test medical-grade masks and visors, to see if expiry dates can be extended
Delivering reform to transform public procurement Partner Content
14 Mar 2022 Commercial
Delivering reform to transform public procurement
Gareth Rhys Williams, government chief commercial officer, discusses the Government Commercial Function Strategy and how procurement will contribute to government success in the coming years
At your service: CCS chief Simon Tse on procurement, PPE and being the 'silent partner' in times of crisis
14 Mar 2022 Commercial
At your service: CCS chief Simon Tse on procurement, PPE and being the 'silent partner' in times of crisis
The chief exec gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Crown Commercial Service's role during the fall of Kabul and the coronavirus pandemic
Seven billion items of pandemic PPE 'not fit for purpose' Exclusive
11 Mar 2022 Commercial
Seven billion items of pandemic PPE 'not fit for purpose'
Nearly one in five units of PPE marked “do not supply” to the NHS by the Department of Health and Social Care
Read the February 2022 issue of Civil Service World
28 Feb 2022 Commercial
Read the February 2022 issue of Civil Service World
CCS's chief executive Simon Tse on procurement during crisis response, and a deep-dive into the levelling up white paper
Sellafield’s long-term view – a beacon of strategic collaboration in the supply chain Partner Content
23 Feb 2022 Commercial
Sellafield’s long-term view – a beacon of strategic collaboration in the supply chain
Proxima speaks to Susan Lussem, Supply Chain Director at Sellafield, about the importance of transparency and collaboration throughout the supply chain over the long term
Becoming Chartered: The benefit for SMEs bidding on government contracts Partner Content
21 Feb 2022 Commercial
Becoming Chartered: The benefit for SMEs bidding on government contracts
Chief executive of the Management Consultancies Association Tamzen Isacsson discusses the benefits of becoming chartered, with views from the government’s CCO Gareth Rhys Williams
EXCL: Health security agency signs £1m deal with Deloitte to help get private Covid tests to market Exclusive
21 Feb 2022 Commercial
EXCL: Health security agency signs £1m deal with Deloitte to help get private Covid tests to market
Consultants brought in to assess paid-for LFT providers as Omicron and supply-chain delays led to shortage of free tests
Cabinet Office to set up conversion-therapy support helpline
17 Feb 2022 Commercial
Cabinet Office to set up conversion-therapy support helpline
Contract notice seeks provider for phone and web service for victims ahead of legal ban
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy Exclusive
17 Feb 2022 Commercial
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy
Agency to provide advice on media relations and a consultation on the public inquiry's terms of reference
Gavin Williamson referred firm that won £1.7m PPE contract to VIP lane, DHSC admits
14 Feb 2022 Commercial
Gavin Williamson referred firm that won £1.7m PPE contract to VIP lane, DHSC admits
Department says it mistakenly left the company off a list of those referred to the high-priority lane in November
Randox lobbying scandal: Chisholm ‘disappointed’ in DHSC’s procurement process for £500m contracts
08 Feb 2022 Commercial
Randox lobbying scandal: Chisholm ‘disappointed’ in DHSC’s procurement process for £500m contracts
Cabinet Office perm sec’s concerns revealed as Owen Paterson’s lobbying texts published
Learning from moonshots: what a mission-oriented approach to policymaking really looks like
02 Feb 2022 Commercial
Learning from moonshots: what a mission-oriented approach to policymaking really looks like
From industrial strategies and booster campaigns to levelling up, government announcements are full of "missions" at the moment. Theo Curtis, an economist at the business department, digs behind the buzz
DHSC writes off £8.7bn of pandemic PPE
01 Feb 2022 Commercial
DHSC writes off £8.7bn of pandemic PPE
The losses included £2.5bn spent on PPE that was not suitable for the NHS or in care settings
MPs demand more transparency over £1bn private hospitals deal
28 Jan 2022 Commercial
MPs demand more transparency over £1bn private hospitals deal
NHS England chief rapped for failure to publish ministerial direction letter on time
Greensill report a 'cynical attempt to distract from real issues', Jeremy Heywood's widow says
24 Jan 2022 Commercial
Greensill report a 'cynical attempt to distract from real issues', Jeremy Heywood's widow says
In a new chapter of the late cabinet secretary's biography, Suzanne Heywood details her attempts to give evidence to the Boardman review
2022: The year that procurement drives significant societal change Partner Content
24 Jan 2022 Commercial
2022: The year that procurement drives significant societal change
Proxima recently sat down with procurement leaders from both the public and private sector, including Simon Tse of the Crown Commercial Service, to discuss the trends to keep an eye on for 2022
Consultants still make up a quarter of test and trace workforce as bosses admit jobs 'less attractive' to civil servants
19 Jan 2022 Commercial
Consultants still make up a quarter of test and trace workforce as bosses admit jobs 'less attractive' to civil servants
Significant progress made on cutting consultant numbers, but short-term roles and secondments deter officials from applying
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
12 Jan 2022 Commercial
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
Some firms marked as high priority for contracts with "no objectively justifiable grounds for expediting the offer", court finds