Procurement

CIC established the Procurement Panel as a forum for exchanging information between CIC member organisations, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and other government departments. The panel looks at current issues in procurement and proposes recommendations. This is done through:

• Establishing workshops and seminars with wide industry participation;
• Inviting speakers from bodies like OGC and HM Treasury, and Government Departments;
• Responding to consultations from Government and other bodies; and
• Drafting papers on current priority issues in procurement.

Design quality, high bidding costs and the role of SMEs in PFI have been major issues that the Panel tackled. New procurement schemes like NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) and Partnerships for Schools are traced either through consultation or progress, and feedback is given through the representatives’ practical experience.