News

From 1 January 2021, the UK will need to access a new portal to receive all public sector procurement information and e-notifications.

An update from our MD

Any experienced bidder will be well-versed in describing their business continuity measures to public-sector buyers. With the COVID-19 pandemic, concepts that were previously hypothetical ‘worst-case scenarios’ – something to be mindful of, and to prepare for in theory – have become very real, and the long-term repercussions for public procurement are inevitable.

A trawl through Contracts Finder shows that COVID-19 is, unsurprisingly, impacting public sector tendering activity. However, with tenders not yet dropping off a cliff, and only a 30% fall in published notices in the last month, there are still opportunities to secure new contracts and generate potentially critical income for your business. At the same time, you will be supporting the NHS, local authorities, and utility companies, and playing your part in meeting urgent requests for goods or services, which are desperately needed.

Don’t be fooled by the marketing hype of our competitors; tendering opportunities have dried up. COVID-19 has hit at the traditionally quiet time of Easter and, combined with the start of the financial year (new budgets, new priorities), has created a perfect storm for a blow to private-sector firms…

The Cabinet Office has recently issued a policy note which may be relevant to you and your business, as a supplier into the public sector. It is directed at public bodies, however we wanted to ensure our clients were as informed as possible in the current circumstances.