FAQ's
Please send any questions you would like answering to cpp.enquiries@dfes.gsi.gov.uk.
- DCLG (formerly ODPM) says in the Local Government Efficiency Review that “at least half of the savings will be cashable – releasing additional resources back to front line services”. What does that mean? Will we see the money we save?
- The CPP is concerned with helping budget-holders get the maximum value out of the public money they spend. The technical definitions are of secondary importance.
Cashable means able to be converted into ready money – money which can be seen. So in simple terms: if a particular item is purchased either in collaboration with other bodies, or from a new supplier, costing £2,000 rather than £2,500, a cashable saving of £500 has been generated. That money remains in the budget-holder’s account and can be reallocated according to their priorities. - So if I make savings, will Ministers claw back the money saved?
- No; explicitly and categorically not.
- Will the new initiative create a vast new layer of time-consuming bureaucracy and expertise?
- No. The CPP is not designed to be another governmental and bureaucratic layer. It will act as an enabler and an entity that operates for the benefit of all stakeholders within the education, skills, and children and families system, helping them cut through the barriers and obstacles to better procurement – not adding to their burdens with further compliance or bureaucratic demands.
- How will you let us know about the latest procurement offers?
- As new offers and initiatives come along, lead organisations in each educational sector will let you know about them and how best to use them. Details will be distributed through usual channels, such as:
- local authorities (education departments);
- Regional Centres of Excellence – RCEs;
- Children’s Services sector;
- HE – Proc-HE, HEFCE, and UUK;
- FE – the LSC and AoC.
- What if we don’t want to share the good deals we have worked hard to obtain with others?
- We believe that saving money and working more effectively is in the best interests of everyone involved in education. We cannot force you to share information about your hard won deals but if you do, you may find that it sparks off other great ideas from someone else. This will mean greater savings for you in the long run.
- Is this just another change to how I do my job – will new procurement opportunities be mandatory?
- Not at all. Budget-holders will be encouraged to take a new approach to buying decisions. The Centre for Procurement Performance (CPP) aims to let you know about the best procurement offers across the whole education, skills, and children and families system. You can choose whether to take advantage of them or not.
- Will this mean more interference from local authorities/ Regional Centres of Excellence etc?
- No. But it will mean more contact with them. Local authorities (LA), Regional Centres of Excellence (RCE) and procurement bodies will make you aware of opportunities for more efficient buying and commissioning. It will then be for individual budget-holders to decide whether to take advantage of those opportunities. Also, funding bodies, consortia, LAs and RCEs will be asking you about money saving opportunities you have discovered. All ideas are shared with other organisations.
- How will the CPP work with other bodies in the education, skills, and children’s services system?
- The CPP has established close working relationships with key stakeholders across the system, including: in local government, the new Regional Centres of Excellence (RCE’s), LA’s, the LGA and Children’s Services; in higher education, HEFCE, UUK and Proc-HE; and in further education, the LSC and the Association of Colleges. Trade and representative bodies have been engaged and consulted. In addition, working protocols are being established with key bodies such as DCLG (formerly ODPM), the OGC and the RCE’s, to ensure that there is a clear understanding of respective roles and responsibilities and boundaries.
- I am a supplier - will this make it harder for me to sell my services to any particular sector?
- No. If you are competitive and responsive to the purchasing needs of your sector, these changes will represent an opportunity for your business to grow
