Government's Spending with SMEs (2016) - Individual contract awards are decided by departments, but by identifying and removing barriers faced by SMEs across government, the Crown Commercial Service aims to make it easier for them to do business with government. Government has abolished pre-qualification questionnaires for low value contracts and required departments to use Contracts Finder to advertise opportunities. SMEs report some positive developments but the most commonly-cited barriers have not changed.
Managing Government Suppliers (2013) - This report sets out the actions government has taken since 2010 to establish a firmer grip on supplier management. This includes the establishment of the strategic supplier programme and the crown representatives.
Future NAO publications Crown Commercial Service (Autumn 2016) - The Crown Commercial Service is now responsible for £15 billion of spending across government. This study will look atthe CCS' business model, how CCS and departments are working together, and how well CCS is managing its growth. |