Our procurement team consists of three full-time specialists who work within the firm’s nationally renowned projects group. Our extensive experience and specialist resource, together with innovative products such as a “procurement hotline” service allow us to offer a first class service to all of our clients.
We act for a wide range of bodies subject to EU Procurement Rules, this includes:-
• local authorities
• NHS trusts
• higher and further education bodies
• transport utility bodies
• energy utility bodies
• registered social landlords
We have advised on a wide range of matters, including:-
• PFI and major PPP projects using the competitive negotiated procedure.
• advising on the use of the competitive dialogue procedure in respect of major projects, including Building Schools for the Future projects. We are heavily involved in advising on the procurement documentation to be used in a competitive dialogue procedure for a number of clients.
• regeneration projects – advising both local authorities and RSLs when acting as bidders. The advice on regeneration projects has also involved us in advising on planning obligations in light of the La Scala case.
• framework agreements – we have advised a range of clients on how to procure major framework agreements, in particular, ensuring compliance with the new Regulations and providing guidance on the running of mini competitions. We advised Partnerships for Schools on the National Contractors' Framework for Academies.
• potential challenges to procedures – where we have advised the contracting authority.
• wide range of miscellaneous advice in respect of EU procurement rules. Some clients take advantage of our “procurement hotline” service for ad hoc advice.
• drafting of procurement documentation and “project managing” the procurement process on behalf of the client.
• delivering bespoke training to a number of clients, recently this has been in relation to the provisions of the new Regulations, but has also included training and workshops on matters such as evaluation. We were fortunate enough to have recently been appointed by the North East Centre of Procurement Excellence to deliver training to local authorities in the North East region. We have also provided training to the corporate procurement division of ODPM.