Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Defra Network eTendering Portal)
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
UK
Contact person: Network Procurement
E-mail: network.procurement@defra.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Address of the buyer profile: https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
Environment
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Learning & Development TPP Comms to Market
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80532000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Communication only.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
80531000
80531100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates to Corporate Services – Learning and Development. The intention is to share some updates regarding the application of the new Procurement Act in this area. Other such notices may be published by other category teams within Defra, and if your business operates across multiple categories you should review all relevant notices for updates. <br/><br/>The Procurement Act 2023 is new legislation that will change the way the public sector buys goods and services. It aims to:<br/>• create a simpler and more flexible commercial system<br/>• open up public procurement to new entrants<br/>• take tougher action on underperforming suppliers<br/>• embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle<br/><br/>The changes are expected to start on 24 February 2025. <br/><br/>The existing legislation will apply until 24 February 2025. After 24 February 2025, it will only apply to procurements and contracts that started before this date, i.e. if the Invitation to Tender (ITT) was published, a voluntary transparency notice was published, or a pricing request was issued.<br/><br/>The new features for suppliers include:<br/>• a central digital platform<br/>• a simplified bidding process<br/>• more flexible commercial frameworks<br/>• a new duty on contracting authorities to consider barriers facing SMEs and VCSEs<br/>• a stronger exclusions framework<br/><br/>What will stay the same<br/><br/>If you are an existing or potential supplier to Defra and have live contracts, are a member of an existing framework, or are planning to bid for a procurement that has or will start prior to the new regime commencing, that arrangement will continue to be subject to the existing Public Contracting Regulations until the contract ends. The same principle applies to any contracts that are subject to any other associated procurement regulations, such as The Utilities Contracts Regulations.<br/><br/>What you need to do<br/><br/>If you are a supplier, you should:<br/>• read the government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transforming-public-procurement <br/>• sign up for regular TPP updates: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMgwpZ1kwubGUpKMLwu0ZpHS8zdWmXKgaHUJKRl-SwqQT95w/viewform<br/>• read the government TPP Knowledge Drops: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-official-transforming-public-procurement-knowledge-drops <br/><br/>We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the new Central Digital Platform using these guidance videos:<br/>• An overview of the central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI<br/>• How to register an organisation and the first administrator in 3 easy steps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnjCa4swtjA<br/>• Detailed walkthrough: How an administrator completes and updates supplier info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ZdbMGRqeQ<br/>• The central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI<br/><br/>If you have a question about the new procurement act, contact the Transforming Public Procurement helpdesk at: procurement.reform@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
19/02/2025
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
19/02/2025