As part of our commitment to supporting UK manufacturers, Made in Britain is collaborating with the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) to provide companies with the tools and knowledge to explore new commercial opportunities within the public sector. With the Procurement Act set to take effect on 24 February 2025, this is the perfect time to prepare your business for the evolving landscape of public procurement.
Earlier this year, on 11 September, Made in Britain hosted an online roundtable with Shirley Cooper OBE, Small Business Crown Representative, Cabinet Office. The session delved into the opportunities for UK SME manufacturers within the Procurement Act.
Made in Britain is pleased to announce a follow-up session with the Crown Commercial Service on 18 March from 11:00 to Noon, offering further guidance and insight. Stay tuned for registration details, which will be available shortly.
Why supply through Crown Commercial Service?
Crown Commercial Service is the UK’s largest central purchasing body, its main role is to manage and simplify the procurement process for the government departments and public sector organisations it represents.
Supplying through CCS offers the following benefits:
- Access to 20,000 public sector buyers.
- Opportunities across 83 categories of common goods and services, from construction to energy and research.
- A simplified tendering process that promotes transparency and fair competition.
- Prompt payment policy implementation
How CCS supports SMEs and UK manufacturers
Contrary to popular belief, public sector procurement isn’t just for large organisations. Many successful suppliers are SMEs, micro-businesses, or voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs). With the introduction of the Procurement Act, access for smaller businesses is set to improve further.
Steps to becoming a CCS supplier
CCS is committed to making it easier for businesses of all sizes to bid for government and public sector contracts.
Here’s how to get started:
1. Learn how the tendering process works for UK public sector procurement
When appointing new suppliers, CCS must follow a formal tendering process to ensure procurement regulations are met. This includes publicly listing all opportunities for potential suppliers.
The tendering process will depend on the type of commercial agreement suppliers wish to join:
- become a framework supplier: respond to a contract notice in the Find a Tender service
- become a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) supplier: register for a place on one of our Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) and complete a standard Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
2. Find public sector tender opportunities
Search for opportunities to sell goods and services to the public sector through:
- Find a Tender service: search for high value opportunities (agreements with an estimated total lifetime value of over £138,760)
- Contracts Finder: search for public sector contracts worth over £12,000 (or £30,000 outside central government) including VAT in England and with non-devolved bodies
- Dynamic Purchasing Marketplace: find more information on what the DPS is about and register as a supplier
- Upcoming agreements: see what opportunities are coming up in our procurement pipeline
There are also many regional and sector-specific procurement organisations, including those in local government, the NHS, and universities. Many public sector bodies also have their own procurement teams.
3. Respond to a tender opportunity and submit your bid
When you have found an opportunity, read the invitation to tender carefully. This is your opportunity to ask CCS any clarification questions about the bid.
CCS procurements are conducted using the eSourcing portal. You will need to be registered on the eSourcing portal to take part in CCS tender opportunities. To register you will need to provide information including:
- full legal name of your organisation
- your DUNS number: a unique 9 digit number provided to organisations free of charge
- profile information describing your organisation and the size of your business
CCS will respond to clarification questions in the eSourcing portal and share them with all bidders for transparency purposes. You should submit your tender bid before the tender deadline.
4. Check the eSourcing portal for updates on the tendering process
At this stage CCS will evaluate all the tenders. This includes:
- the selection questionnaire
- answers to each quality question
- the pricing submission
Suppliers should regularly check our eSourcing portal to stay up to date on their tender. CCS will use the portal to ask you any clarification questions and list the outcome of the evaluation.
5. Sign and return your agreement to supply
If you are successful you will sign and return your agreement. You will then be onboarded as a supplier to the relevant framework or DPS. Public sector buyers may then invite you to bid on their call-off competitions.
Standard template for framework contracts
CCS has a standard template for framework contracts for common goods and services. You can view the standard core terms and conditions, along with schedule templates.
Different agreements may change the terms depending on the category subject. You should be mindful of checking the terms and raising questions during clarification.
Made in Britain resources
The Procurement Act aims to increase transparency, competition, and value for money, making public contracts more accessible to SMEs.
Through Made in Britain’s guidance, companies can strengthen their alignment with the priorities of both public and private sector buyers, positioning themselves as leaders in responsible, impactful production.
To make contact with Made in Britain and find out more about public procurement, please email trade@madeinbritain.org.
By Made in Britain 1 month ago | Government & Supply Chains