This document provides an introduction to procurement and tendering processes in the public sector in Wales. It aims to increase understanding of the rules and processes behind public sector tendering. The objectives are to set tendering in its proper context and improve organizations' ability to identify, prepare for and respond successfully to tender opportunities. It covers the context of EU and UK public sector tendering, definitions, the tendering process, who it applies to and what types of goods and services it covers. It also discusses the changing political landscape in Wales and support available for the voluntary sector.

1. Introduction to Procurement and
Tendering
public sector focus in Wales
SEEN3 Event – 30 March 2011
Delivered by Dawn Rowley
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2. Aim and Objectives
Aim
- Increase your understanding of the rules and
processes behind public sector tendering
Objectives
- Set Tendering in its rightful context
- Improve your organisations ability to identify,
prepare and respond successfully to tender
opportunities
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3. What we will cover
• Context of public sector tendering
• What it’s all about?
• Changing Political scene
• Support for the Voluntary Sector
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4. Context
• EU law adopted into UK
• 10+ years of public sector tendering activity
• Tried-and-tested processes
• Widening scope of goods/services tendered
• Growing numbers of bidders/competitors
• Encompasses all sectors (private, independent, charity and
voluntary)
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5. What’s it all about?
• Fair, transparent, equitable process
• Opening up competition (EU wide)
• Securing the required quality and volume of
services
• Value-for-money (for the public purse)
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6. EU Tendering process – outline
Office of the Journal of the European Union (OJEU)
- EOI
- PQQ
- ITT
- Presentation
- Contract sign
- Delivery
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7. Who does it apply to?
• Any organisation who is using public funds to
pay for goods/services
- EU grant funding
- Central Govt/Devolved Govt
- Councils
- Health Boards / GPs / NHS Dentists
- Police, Fire, blue-light services
- National Park Authorities
- Quango’s
- Infrastructure Organisations
+ Private sector companies, if the money they are
to use is from public source – e.g. BT, Network Rail
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8. What does it apply to?
EU rules/law
• Any goods/services with a contract value of
193,000 euros (£156,422) or more
+ (UK guidance)
• Any goods/services with a contract value of
£50,000 or more should use same PROCESS
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9. Definitions
Procurement Tendering
• The acquisition of • The process used to
goods and/or services purchase goods and/
by means of purchase or services
Commissioning
•The methodology used by public bodies to (i) identify
(ii) prioritise and (iii) plan public services, based on (a)
consultation (b) assessed needs (c) evidence and
research
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10. Changing Political Scene
• Reduced levels of public money available
• Sharper focus on securing the delivery of
contracted outcomes
• Emphasis on ‘doing it differently’ … providing it
delivers more for £
• Collaboration and partnership working
• Social Enterprises at the forefront since June
2010
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11. Value Wales initiative
• The delivery of efficiencies through robust
procurement
- ‘adopt or justify’ policy (WAG)
- Framework Agreements open to all public bodies in
Wales
- Regional ‘lots’ to encourage SME (and Social Enterprises)
- Simplified PQQ processes
- Supplier qualification information databases (e.g.
SQuID in HE sector)
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12. Support for Voluntary Sector
• Significant focus on ‘capacity building’ over past
3 years
• ‘Think Smart, think Voluntary Sector’ – 2008
guidance
• A definite desire for increased Voluntary Sector
involvement in collaborative public service
delivery
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13. The realities going forward …
• Reduced capacity (£) for continued direct
support
• Knowledge and experience levels in sector
arguably ‘comparable’ with private sector SMEs
and start-ups
• Second-tier ‘opportunities’ – untapped potential
(via collaborative arrangements)
• Larger scale of contracts in future (economies of
scale)
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14. What does this all mean for you?
• Very likely to ‘bump into’ tendering process
• You need to understand what it can/can’t do for
your organisation
• Growth of Social Enterprises in public sector will
be significant over next 4 years
• you need to decide if this will/needs to form ONE
strand of your organisation’s approach to future
funding ….
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15. So - What next?
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16. ‘How To’ tendering workshop
1.15pm -2.30pm
A chance to hear about10 Hot Tips for increasing
your organisations’ chances of success when
preparing tenders …
A practical session for those new to tendering (a
good refresher for others!) to help you
understand where you can significantly increase
your chances if you get things right!!
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17. Thank you for listening
I hope to see you all this afternoon!
Dawn Rowley
Tel: 07790 716770
For more information please visit our website
www.reviewmytender.co.uk