Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has become the first public sector procurement organisation to be verified under Constructing Excellence‘s ‘Gold Standard Verification Scheme’
The Gold Standard Verification scheme aims to ensure that Government departments and the wider public sector adopt urgent recommendations for improved value, reduced risks and achievement of net zero on all their construction projects.
CCS supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services.
As an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office, it offers the largest number of interlocking construction commercial agreements in the UK, providing a wide range of customers across central government and the wider public sector with end-to-end integrated solutions and value added services for their project requirements.
In 2022/23, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £3.8bn – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.
‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ of better framework procurement
‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ sets out an integrated and collaborative approach to framework procurement, contracting and management. It is endorsed by public sector clients and by 50 industry bodies in the September 2022 update of the ‘Construction Playbook’.
In 2021, Professor David Mosey CBE was asked by the Cabinet Office to carry out an Independent Review of Public Sector Construction Frameworks. He consulted 120 organisations and ‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ is the result of his work. It sets out 24 recommendations to help clients and industry identify what questions they should ask when creating and implementing construction frameworks and alliances, what answers they should expect and how they can make informed decisions.
The Constructing Excellence Gold Standard Verification Scheme was launched in November 2023 in partnership with King’s College London. It is an objective system for recognising and supporting framework providers and clients who adopt Gold Standard practices and contracts.
The scheme assesses the claims made by framework providers and by clients who procure their own frameworks, and it provides a measure of quality for clients and industry organisations who use and bid for construction frameworks.
CCS is the first of its public sector peers to achieve Gold Standard Verification procurement
CCS is the first organisation to complete the verification scheme, with six other clients and framework providers participating in the pilot. These include the Ministry of Justice, Environment Agency, Scape, CHIC, LHC, and Procurement Hub (Places for People).
John Welch, commercial director at Crown Commercial Service said: “I’m delighted that CCS’s Construction frameworks have achieved Gold Standard status. Our frameworks are designed to facilitate a real shift change in how construction requirements are procured, increasing supply chain collaboration, boosting innovation, supporting carbon net zero targets, and focusing just as strongly on building safety.
“This accreditation demonstrates how we’re continuously improving our service for customers. It isn’t just about saving them time and money. It’s about maximising their estates to build a better future for the communities they serve.”
“Better procurement is crucial” for a sustainable construction industry
Professor David Mosey CBE, King’s College London, said: “The Gold Standard features of the Crown Commercial Service frameworks and alliances, supported by their innovative contracts, have helped clients such as Ministry of Justice and Defence Infrastructure Organisation to achieve impressive efficiencies, innovations and net zero commitments. Their Gold Standard practices and contracts have also ensured new business opportunities and fair treatment for tier 1 and tier 2 supply chain members.”
Jane Goddard, deputy CEO and chief marketing officer at BRE, said: “Better procurement is crucial to enable the construction supply chain to effectively deliver a sustainable built environment and meet our climate goals.
“It’s great to see Crown Commercial Service demonstrating its leadership in this space through the independent Constructing Excellence scheme and driving best practice across the procuring departments. We look forward to verifying many more framework providers through the scheme in the coming months.”
