Contracts Finder - Measuring Tender and Award Publication

Cabinet Office wishes to engage a supplier to monitor the publication of tenders and awards on Contracts Finder in order to improve the quality of data.

Legislation requires UK bodies to publish procurement and contracting data on two key websites; Tenders Electronic Daily (OJEU) for procurement above the EU publication threshold and to Contracts Finder for the majority of non-devolved public procurement above certain low-value thresholds (set out in Part 4 of the Public Contracts Regulations).

Similar portals exist for publication of opportunities by devolved functions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are a large number of regional/specialist portals where opportunities are also advertised.

Areas of interest

Procurement activity that isn't advertised on Contracts Finder

The Authority seeks to determine the extent of in scope procurement activity that is not published on Contracts Finder.

Awarded Opportunities

The Authority seeks to determine the extent of the gap between awarded opportunities and publication on Contracts Finder.

Publication of above threshold Contract notices and awards to Contracts Finder

The Authority seeks to determine the extent of the gap between publication on Tenders Electronic Daily and publication on Contracts Finder.

Publication of tender documents and Contract documents on Contracts Finder

It is a policy requirement that central Government bodies, their NDPBs and Agencies publish tender documents and contract documents (attached to opportunity and award notices, respectively) on Contracts Finder. We would like to determine the extent to which this policy is being followed.

Optional Requirements

Optional - Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) Code Use

To establish the extent to which the CPV codes used on Contracts Finder notices is inconsistent with the notice description.

Optional - Other data issues

The Authority would also welcome input on the information required to address other data quality issues that may be impacting our stakeholders' ability to drive value from Contracts Finder data.

A full description is attached.

Route to Market

The Authority intends to run a call off competition from the CCS's Research Marketplace Dynamic Purchasing System.

Interested suppliers are invited to complete a bid pack for registration on the DPS available at: https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dps#research

The Authority recommends that suppliers submit bid packs by 13 December 2019 (to allow time for assessment for admission to the DPS and for any clarifications to be resolved).

Suppliers must be on the DPS by 9 January 2020 to be considered for this requirement. The Authority anticipates commencing the sourcing event on the Research Marketplace DPS on 13 January 2020.

For any issues with registration please contact:

Email: researchmarketplace@crowncommercial.gov.uk

Telephone: 0845 299 2994

Or use the "Contact Us" tab at the foot of the Supplier Registration Service (SRS).