Press Releases

Peter Gershon consults customers and suppliers on further direction of OGC

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is to assess its capability of working with other government departments and suppliers to deliver the most efficient and effective use of the civil procurement budget.

Peter Gershon, Chief Executive said:

"I have put in hand a review of OGC to make sure that our resources and structure support our strategies. The way we work with others is a keystone of our success. That is why consultations with our customers and our suppliers will be an important aspect of the review and a wide range of views will be sought."

OGC is keen to understand the experience of suppliers to government and their views on ways the public sector might improve its performance as a customer and catalyse the most efficient and effective use of the civil procurement budget.

Mr Gershon said that the Office of Government Commerce would be writing to a range of firms and representative bodies to seek views about their commercial relationships with government. Views that firms have about commercial dealings with Government, including the views of those who, for whatever reason, do not currently supply to Government, would also be welcomed, he said.

Since its inception on 1 April 2000 the OGC key strategies for the new organisation have been developed.

Views can be sent to Michael Corcoran, preferably by e-mail, to:

Michael.corcoran@ogc.gsi.gov.uk or at:

Office of Government Commerce
2-6 Salisbury Square
London EC4Y 8AE

NOTES TO EDITORS

• 1. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) was set up on 1 April 2000 to become the Government's centre of excellence in procurement for up to 200 Government departments, non-government bodies and agencies. OGC brings together the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA), Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE), The Buying Agency (TBA) together with procurement staff from HM Treasury.
• 2. The purpose of the present review is to look at the whole of OGC but it will take account of the more specific quinquennial reviews of CCTA and PACE which are due this year (Executive Agencies are subject to quinquennial reviews every 5 years.
• 3. A copy of Andrew Smith's Parliamentary Answer, announcing quinquennial reviews of CCTA and PACE, is at Annex A.
• 4. OGC's key strategies are on the OGC's website (www.ogc.gov.uk).
  5. Press calls to Malcolm Graves on 020 7211 1366 or 020 7270 5192. Public Enquiries on 020 7270 4558.

ANNEX A

In an answer to a parliamentary questions from Mrs Jackie Lawrence MP (Preseli Pembrokeshire) about the timing of quinquennial reviews due for CCTA and PACE, Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:

"The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) and Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) are part of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) which became operational on 1 April t his year. Since 1 April, key strategies for the new organisation have been developed, and a review has been put in hand to ensure that resources and the organisational structure support those strategies. The terms of reference for the review are:

"To review the present structure of OGC, covering its executive agencies and all other units; and to make recommendations on how best to align OGC's resources to deliver successfully its vision and strategies. The review will take into account the views of stakeholders including staff, central departments, other departments, customers and suppliers. It will also take account of requirements for Agency quinquennial reviews, in order to provide the specific reviews required for CCTA and PACE in the next year."

In ensuring that the review will take account of the need for quinquennial reviews of CCTA and PACE, it will consider past performance, organisational options for service delivery and ways in which service can be improved. These issues are also relevant to the whole organisation, not just CCTA and PACE., Similarly, the organisational review will incorporate an independent input and will seek the views of both customers and suppliers about how the OGC as a whole can best catalyse the most efficient and effective use of the civil procurement budget."

OGC REVIEW - BRIEFING FOR STAFF