British Expertise International (BEI) were joined by Aron Cronin and Tony Gardner from GIC Limited to review with BEI’s international development members the new HMG Procurement Bill and its implications for them as tenderers.
The Bill includes a number of regulation-making powers to ensure that the legislation will continue to facilitate a modern procurement structure for years to come which will keep pace with technological advances and new trade agreements.
The Procurement Act is now nearing completion of the parliamentary and legislative process, before undergoing a period of public consultation.
There are positive improvements as a result of the Bill for the prospects of SMEs in particular to gain better access to government contracts in international development. However, the team noted that there were a number of underlying challenges around procurement that had perhaps not yet been addressed by the Bill.
As would be expected, there are a number of issues which the audience feel need clarification on such as how social value will be treated, measured, and evaluated in future procurement. The group will be collating a summary as part of the consultation exercise of the key issues that would both support better engagement of SMEs in particular in the international development domain and how this process could help ensure better outcomes and value for money.
For more information on this or to ensure you are included in the circulation of the presentation and associated feedback and input to the consultation, contact Luisa Edves (le@britishexpertise.org).
