Government all Set to Streamline Digital Procurement Process

As per the latest announcement from the government, it is planning to remove several barriers preventing companies that are vying for digital public sector contracts. By doing so; the government intends to open up the opportunity windows for SMEs within the process of procurement.

Criticizing the current contracts awarding system, Chloe Smith- the cabinet office parliamentary secretary says it is “stacked against” the small and medium-sized enterprises. She insists action must be taken to make the playing field even.

Ms Smith suggests drastic changes in the application procedure aspect are required because it is lengthy and complex at present. She says this "unnecessary process" need to be stripped away to "open up government business to a broader range of suppliers".

The announcement follows the Government Digital Service and the Government Procurement Service agreeing on a new 'digital procurement framework'. Reportedly, the framework aims bring forth a larger pool of software providers so that recently-announced plans are implemented and government payment services are brought online.

Dissatisfaction of the SMEs with the current system is quite evident. Most SMEs find the system has quite "unachievable" financial requirements on smaller companies that apply for public service contracts, as per by Ms Smith. These conditions are "designed to serve the needs of procureaucrats not business," she adds.

One the new changes are in place, chances of SMEs winning more public sector contracts would increase. Consequently, there would be a surge in recruitment for procurement jobs nationwide, not only in the digital sector but others as well.

In the meantime, another study conducted by Office Depot has indicated that businesses will place greater significance on issues like that of corporate social responsibility and sustainability while choosing their suppliers.

Procurement representatives and managers of various companies were surveyed as part of the study, with majority of these (about 80%) consenting that these issues may become more significant in the process of decision-making in following couple of years, even if one-in-five businesses presently rate them as the least important factors.

For about one in three companies, however, a supplier's ethical credentials were the most important aspect of sustainability, whereas about 17.4 per cent believe the carbon footprint of a supplier of greater importance.

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London Readies for Hydrogen-powered Transport: Report

In the wake of the increasing awareness among logistics providers about their carbon footprint, the coming years might see an enormous demand for hydrogen-powered vehicles soon turning into a big problem.

As per a recent report by Link 51- the leading storage solutions supplier , sustainable development, climate change and energy conservation are amongst the top priorities among most supply chain bosses. Therefore, it comes as an excellent welcome news that London and the south-east will soon see the installation of the first hydrogen fuelling stations, as part of an endeavour to create the govt.'s so-called "integrated hydrogen transport network".

Funded by the Technology Strategy Board, the LHNE (London Hydrogen Network Expansion) project is expected to make way for a "state-of-the-art fast-fill 700 bar renewable hydrogen fuelling station network". It is expected that, as a result of this project, the sustainable fuel powered transport vehicles will likely take over the country's supply chain running.

As commercially available hydrogen-powered vehicles are all set to hit the market in coming years, manufacturers of car are fast opting for 700-bar fuelling stations' installation countrywide. If rolled out nationwide, this plan has the potential to change transport manager job's nature in the UK. In the meantime, the govt. has been working towards resolving the confusion concerning the award of contracts for running its rail service franchises.

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