WIREDGOV

Buying Solutions, the national procurement partner for UK public services, has today launched a new collaborative Project Management and Full Design Team Services framework agreement. This is an agreement with suppliers that sets out terms and conditions under which specific arrangements can be made by public sector customers throughout the terms of the agreement.

It will assist the public sector in delivering a wide range of new build, regeneration, renovation and refurbishment schemes.

The public sector currently spends around £10 billion per annum on accommodation, office refurbishments and renovation projects.

The new arrangements have been developed between Buying Solutions and Improvement and Efficiency South East (IESE), and will provide a one-stop-shop solution for major projects or programmes of work.

As well as delivering against the Operational Efficiency Programme, the new arrangements also support and embed the Office of Government Commerce’s Construction Policy on High Performing Property, which is expected to achieve £1.5billion in savings by 2013.

David Corcoran, IESE’s Head of Procurement said: “These new arrangements provide a complimentary service to the existing IESE Tier 1 construction framework, enabling full project team adoption of the IESE collaborative approach.

“Lower costs and faster access to providers of construction consultancy services represents value for money. Our collaboration is promoting cost efficiency and improved delivery through shared learning, volume leverage and capacity building.”

Buying Solutions Property Solutions Category Director Karen Webb added: “The savings in using the framework agreement are made in both time and procurement costs, with very simple project documentation and reduced evaluation costs.

“Because the framework agreement is an attractive proposition, the fee competition is intense, meaning customers will benefit from very high levels of quality at extremely advantageous prices”.

For more information, please go to the Buying Solutions’ website or contact the Buying Solutions’ Customer Service Desk on 0345 410 2222 and ask to speak to Alison Lisett, Senior Category Specialist.

Notes to Editors

The service package can be used as a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” consultancy solution, as a schedule of specialist elements which can be purchased in isolation or any bespoke combination according to customer need, irrespective of the value of the project.

It replaces an existing, very successful Buying Solutions framework agreement that expired earlier this year.

It provides customers with access to a project management and full design team service to take projects through the RIBA Plan of Work Stages and OGC Gateway Review Process when delivering new build schemes, regeneration and major works programmes.

Successful supplier appointments to the framework agreement are:

EC Harris LLP
Gardiner & Theobald LLP
Bovis Lend Lease
Drivers Jonas LLP
Turner & Townsend
Capita Symonds
Faithful + Gould
Mace
Mott MacDonald
Pick Everard
Jacobs
Rider Levett Bucknall
 

For more details of the Buying Solutions and IESE arrangements for these new procurement arrangements, and which is most appropriate for your organisation, visit their respective websites at:

www.buyingsolutions.gov.uk
www.southeastiep.gov.uk

About Buying Solutions

 
Buying Solutions is the national procurement partner for UK public services, enabling customers to improve value for money and efficiency. We are an Executive Agency of the Office of Government Commerce in the Treasury.

We have extensive expertise in procurement, with over 500,000 products and services delivered through over 600 suppliers in ICT, eCommerce, property and office solutions, energy, travel and professional services.

Our EU-compliant, benchmarked framework agreements and other procurement arrangements enable organisations to deliver improved value for money in their commercial activities. We also provide expertise and professional support to our customers.

More details are available on the website: www. buyingsolutions.gov.uk
 
Media contact:

Ben Heppenstall

e.         ben.heppenstall@buyingsolutions.gsi.gov.uk
t.          0151 672 2218