Category Archives: Procurement

Publications on issues involving procurement

ACE – Procurement landscape – Wider, challenging, and in need of reform

It is estimated that the UK Government procures £230bn of products and services per year, with items varying from simple purchases like stationary through to complex investment decisions such as construction.

The construction sector has long voiced its opinion about how efficiencies could be gained through procurement reform. Despite much research and many attempts, progress is still slow and inefficiency remains high.

This report is the first in ACE’s procurement series and takes a critical look at the investment process and procurement landscape in a more holistic way than previous reports/investigations. This landscape is then critically reviewed in light of company, client and individual behaviours and economic theory to try and establish where the issues relating to slow progress actually occur.

The procurement landscape as outlined covers not only the transactional process of buying but also the investment process from its inception through the client process, supply chain engagement and eventually to operation.

This first report aims to transform the language around the procurement debate to one of identifying areas for change. As such, this report suggests the next steps that should be taken into specific areas to ensure future progress is made.

Company website:
http://www.acenet.co.uk/

ACE – State Investment Bank

This paper is the final paper in ACE’s infrastructure investment series and explores in more detail the rational and practicalities of establishing a State Investment Bank.

Key areas explored in the paper:

  • A State Investment Bank could play an important role in long term economic policy
  • A State Investment Bank would help to stimulate housing supply
  • Given the importance of SME finance, it should remain separated from the task of investing in infrastructure.
  • State aid approval is required for a State Investment Bank
  • A State Investment Bank is not a one stop shop to fix for endemic investment problems
  • A State Investment Bank needs to make profit and invest returns.
  • Building a skills base for a State Investment Bank is vital
  • The change in financial regulatory landscape needs to be factored into a State Investment Banks design
  • The scale of capitalisation for a State Investment Bank is important
  • The banking levy could provide a significant degree of the capital for a State Investment Bank
  • A State Investment Bank requires a solid plan as to its capitalisation proces
  • Could the government scale down Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) into a State Invsestment Bank?
  • A clear roadmap would be needed to scale up the GIB to a full State Investment Bank.

Company website:
http://www.acenet.co.uk/

ACE – Procurement in PPFM

This paper is the third in ACE’s infrastructure investment series and explores in more detail improvement that could be made to the procurement within Public and Private Finance Models (PPFM).

Issues explored in this paper include the concept of flexibility, transparency and the use of a centralised resource to improve procurement efficiency and reactiveness, resulting in better overall value for money for the taxpayer.

The paper explores and has recommendations in the following areas:

  • There needs to be clear guidance on model suitability
  • Centralised efficiency and skills retention are important
  • The two broad procurement phases, provide limited information or confidence to the market
  • Implementing a Procurement Efficiency Mechanism (PEM)
  • There needs to be improved accountability
  • Procurement issues expand beyond that of Public Private Finance Models
  • Design and exploratory work can save time and money
  • Flexibility is required for government to gain better efficiency and value for money
  • Provide a baseline, creating a fixed operational performance will provide certainty
  • Dynamic operational performance, providing capacity and efficiency beyond the baseline

Company website:
http://www.acenet.co.uk/