HEPA Digest: February 2021 (part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of the February 2021 HEPA Digest. 

Scope 3 Tool: February 2021 HESCET Update

We are really pleased to say that the newly updated Scope 3 HESCET Tool is released and available for you to download and utilise within your own institution here.  It is very important to note the changes to the conversion factors that have taken place between the old tool and the new tool, and also the future work that the HEPA Responsible Procurement Group Scope 3 sub-group will be undertaking over the coming months – all detailed in the article.  A huge thanks to colleagues from across the sector for their efforts in the collaboration to get this tool updated.

Import of Goods Post Brexit

For anybody who missed the excellent time to talk with David Miller of The Customs People covering EU Origin, you can re-watch the session and view the slides here.  You can also download our EU Rule of Origin Summary for Imports of Goods into the UK from the EU here.  

Members have also requested that we run another time to talk covering Incoterms, so I am delighted to announce that this will take place on 8 March at 10AM via Teams.  As ever, places are free of charge for you and your team, and bookings can be made here.

Finally, don’t forget that you can download our superb Guide to Imports of Goods from 1 January 2021 here, which covers not only EU Origin and Incoterms, but also everything else!

PPN 02/21 - the WTO GPA & the UK-EU TCA

The Cabinet Office have released a new PPN informing contracting authorities of considerations due to the UK’s membership of the Government Procurement Agreement and actions required to apply the public procurement rules in the Trade & Cooperation Agreement – more information is available on HEPA here.

Training, Learning & Development

Following on from the first batch of Masterclasses run by the Cabinet Office Standards & Continuous Improvement team which were open, free of charge, to HEPA members, we are very pleased to announce the next set of Masterclasses which will be running over the coming weeks and months.

• Transparency In Procurement: Legal Requirements & Find A Tender Service - Wednesday 3rd March, 13:00 - 14:00
• Optimising Commercial Outcomes: Early Market Engagement and Analysis - Wednesday 10th March, 13:00 - 14:00
• Delivering Effective Category Strategies - Wednesday 17th March, 13:00 - 14:00
• EU-Exit Contingency Planning across MOJ's Food and Retail Category - Wednesday 24th March, 13:00 - 14:00
• Implementing Social Value Across The Home Office - Wednesday 31st March, 12:00 - 13:00
• Debt Recovery Masterclass - Wednesday 7th April, 13:00 - 14:00
• Driving Value Through Competitive Negotiation - Wednesday 14th April, 12:00 - 13:00
• Overcoming The Ventilator Challenge - Wednesday 21st April, 13:00 - 14:00
• Controls and Assurance - Wednesday 28th April, 13:00 - 14:00

All of these Masterclasses, plus all of the other learning & development opportunities open to HEPA members, are listed in the dedicated training calendar on the website. 

From the calendar you will note there is still time to book on to Cyber Skills for Commercial Professionals (free CIPS CPD!) and the Electronics Watch webinar this week.

Round-up

• NEUPC have released a summary of continued support for offices at home detailing the work and commitments of the suppliers on the furniture framework;
• NEUPC and the NE5 are also running a brilliant Building Better Futures programme which you can follow the progress of over the coming weeks here;
• If IR35 is your thing, then do check out Julia’s article and time to talk on Complying with off-payroll working rules;
• As we mentioned in February’s first Digest, the profile of procurement really is growing. I am sure you will have noticed the recent ruling from the High Court around contract award notices against the Government – don’t forget to have your say about all things procurement on the HEPA discussion boards!

Finally, as the consultation period draws to a close for the green paper, what are your thoughts on transforming public procurement?  Colin Cram certainly has some interesting ones!  What do you think?