1.1 Since its introduction into UK law in January 2006, Competitive Dialogue has been used by the public sector to deliver a broad scope of projects ranging from large scale infrastructure programmes (including a variety of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)) to IT systems.1 With over 1,200 procurements having been undertaken using Competitive Dialogue, HM Treasury felt there was now sufficient experience of the procedure to allow a meaningful review to take place.
1.2 This review has been motivated by Governmen's policy commitment to achieve value for money for the public sector by improving the delivery of projects and minimising procurement costs and we recognise the importance of efficient and effective procurements in achieving this aim. Badly delivered procurements deliver badly executed projects which are more likely to be subject to escalating costs and delays, increasing the cost to the public purse and reducing the value for money achieved.
1.3 HM Treasury has a historical commitment to the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) to review the impact of the Competitive Dialogue procurement process. Colleagues in the Cabinet Office's Efficiency and Reform Group are currently undertaking a Lean Procurement Review to uncover the causes of delay in the procurement process and to suggest actions to rectify them. It is hoped that the findings of this 18 months study will complement and contribute to this valuable piece of work and this report has been submitted as evidence to the ERG Review for their consideration.
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1 http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/guide_competitive_dialogue.pdf