HEPA Digest: January 2024

Welcome to the first HEPA digest of 2024! 

Universities as Contracting Authorities - a Round-Table discussion via Teams - Monday 15 January 2024 @ 14:00

This is a Round-Table session to discuss the topic of Universities as Contracting Authorities.  To kick-off the discussion you will hear from a fellow member who has been through this process.  The session will then be opened up for discussion under Chatham House rules.  Book your free place here!

Procurement Act update – a Time to Talk with Shakespeare Martineau – Wednesday 17 January 2024 @ 10:00

We will once again be joined by Uddalak Datta, Legal Director, Shakespeare Martineau for the third instalment in the HEPA series of updates on procurement reform from a legal perspective.  Please do let me know should you wish for this session to cover any particular topics in the Procurement Act?  Book your free place here!

Calculating the Cost of Net Zero surgery - Monday 22 January 2024 @ 10:00

This is a surgery for members using the Cost of Net Zero Calculator with delivery partners Energise on hand to offer technical support.  Find out more and book your free place here!

Scope 3 Tool: HESCET V3.9, updated December 2023

The Responsible Procurement Group - GHG measurement & Reporting - HESCET development sub-group is pleased to release an updated version of the Higher Education Supply Chain Emissions Tool (HESCET).

You can download the latest tool – V3.9 – here.  You can also review the accompanying notes summarising the changes from the previous version of the tool.

Procurement Value Survey – for members in England, Wales & Northern Ireland

The Procurement Value Survey (PVS) is open for 2022/23 submissions.  You can find a handy summary of the resources available to help you complete the PVS, as well as details of how to access the survey here.

Transforming Public Procurement

We were delighted to be joined by the Cabinet Office team responsible for the Transforming Public Procurement programme and the implementation of the Procurement Act at our December series of Head of Procurement group meetings.  If you missed your meeting then do not worry – you can catch up on the Cabinet Office presentation and view the slides presented here.

Knowledge Drop videos:  Learning & Development products are starting to become available as we approach the October 2024 implementation of the Procurement Act – the first of these products is the Knowledge Drop videos which you can view and download here.  These resources provide a high-level overview of the changes to the procurement regulations and may be useful to share with stakeholders across your institution as well as suppliers.  They are not intended to provide in-depth training on the new regulations – this will come via the e-learning packages due to be launched in the coming months.

Super Users:  a final – final – call!  We can probably squeeze in a few more Higher Education sector Super Users.  There is more information about this role here.  Please do let me know should you or a member of your team wish to get involved!

Round-up

• Have a read of my notes from my most recent catch-up with the Domestic Procurement Policy team here.
• The House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts have released their report focusing on competition in public procurement. The report, produced at the time of the passage of the Procurement Bill through Parliament, sets out a list of recommendations regarding public procurement which you may find interesting reading.  You can view and download a copy of the report here.
• Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published its Carbon Reduction Plan - to achieve Net Zero emissions at the latest by 2050. The plan sets out the methodology used by CCS as well as detailing the baseline year (April 2022 to March 2023).  You can read the plan here.
• Finally, a reminder of the new thresholds via PPN 11/23.