Events

The series of four lunch & learn sessions during March 2024 will look at how to navigate public sector competitions, breaking down what's included, how to interpret what's required and how to put together your response.

At this first session, we'll look at the standard selection questionnaire (SSQ) working through each section and giving an overview of what's required including things like mandatory and discretionary exclusions.

At this second session, we'll look at the specification, evaluation criteria and how to answer technical/quality questions.

We'll break down the structure of questions and overview how to relate your response back to the specification and scoring criteria.

We'll use an example from a previous bid set of questions working through how to structure an answer

The Procurement Act 2023 is due to go live on 28th October 2024. This event for both buyers and suppliers will look at what we have learned since the Act has been in force.

We'll look if possible at the Competitive Flexible Procedure and how it's being used, how dynamic markets are operating and whether Frameworks are being let under the new constructs as well as how the Central Digital Platform is working and if the new notice regime is helping to create more transparency and accessibility to public sector buyers.

We'll also be asking SMEs to feedback about whether their experience has changed at all. This is the third of five events we'll hold starting December 2024 and throughout 2025 to keep updating on how the Procurement Act 2023 is embedding in day to day public procurement life.

At this third session we'll look at the terms and conditions, pulling out the main legal areas to focus on such as warranties/liabilities, cost increases, termination, IPR etc.

This session doesn't constitute legal advice but is guidance from a practitioners perspective.

We will look at standard goods and services contracts and will not cover SAAS (Software As A Service) or specific Construction Contracts such as NEC3

At this final session, we'll look at the feedback process. After every public sector bid when the result of the tender is communicated to you, it should be accompanied by some feedback. In this session, we will go through examples of useful feedback and an overview of what you should expect to get or can ask for from the contracting authority. We will also chat about how to use feedback for future work. We'll also discuss what to do if you're not happy with either the outcome or process and where you can go to get support.

With the Procurement Act in force from October 2024, we'll also showcase how feedback processes have changed under the new regulations as contracting authorities use assessment summaries and what bidders can expect to get in the future. We'll explore what should happen both above and below the regulation contract value threshold.

We often get asked about how to approach working with other businesses to secure public sector opportunities. Working with others can help you apply for larger opportunities, and can spread risk and bring together multiple skills and strengths.

We're putting on this event, dedicated to exploring collaborative working.

We'll give an overview of the things you might want to consider leading up to becoming ‘contract ready’ in a partnership and we'll explore what the key areas of focus are for businesses wanting to work together to secure work in the public sector.

We’ll explore what the make or break elements are of preparing to work with others.

Go4Growth is a collaboration between two businesses and so we'll share our experiences of both the positives and the challenges we've encountered along the way.

This highly interactive workshop will also give an opportunity for businesses who want to, to give an intro to their business and exchange details and explore how to form new working relationships. Come along and find out more about collaborative working and hopefully find and make new connections for future work whist you're there!