Planning

Travel and Accommodation TPP Comms to Market

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

19 Feb 2025 at 10:13

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is planning a procurement process titled "Travel and Accommodation TPP Comms to Market," classified under the industry category of Travel management services (CPV 63516000). The process is currently in the planning stage, with significant changes anticipated to start on 24 February 2025 due to the new Procurement Act 2023. The procurement involves issuing a dummy pipeline to allow communications to be released about these changes, affecting corporate travel services across the UK. Suppliers should be aware of ongoing and new legislative requirements that intend to simplify and make the public procurement process more transparent and accessible. The main office for this procurement is located at Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, with Katy Reed as the primary contact person.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in travel management services to engage with Defra under a simplified and more flexible procurement framework. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate due to new measures designed to reduce barriers for these organisations. Companies can benefit from a more streamlined bidding process via a central digital platform and maintain engagement with the public sector under robust, transparent commercial systems. This procurement aligns with Defra's continuous requirement for travel-related services and assures continuity through existing frameworks even after new regulations come into effect. Interested parties should stay informed through the government's guidance and regular updates regarding the transformational changes in public procurement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Travel and Accommodation TPP Comms to Market

Notice Description

Dummy pipeline to allow comms to be issued

Lot Information

Lot 1

A briefing note for suppliers: Changes to procurement in Defra

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates to Corporate Services - Travel category. The intention is to share some updates regarding the application of the new Procurement Act in this area. Other such notices may be published by other category teams within Defra, and if your business operates across multiple categories you should review all relevant notices for updates.

The Procurement Act 2023 is new legislation that will change the way the public sector buys goods and services. It aims to:
* create a simpler and more flexible commercial system
* open up public procurement to new entrants
* take tougher action on underperforming suppliers
* embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle

The changes are expected to start on 24 February 2025.

The existing legislation will apply until 24 February 2025. After 24 February 2025, it will only apply to procurements and contracts that started before this date, i.e. if the Invitation to Tender (ITT) was published, a voluntary transparency notice was published, or a pricing request was issued.

The new features for suppliers include:
* a central digital platform
* a simplified bidding process
* more flexible commercial frameworks
* a new duty on contracting authorities to consider barriers facing SMEs and VCSEs
* a stronger exclusions framework

What will stay the same

If you are an existing or potential supplier to Defra and have live contracts, are a member of an existing framework, or are planning to bid for a procurement that has or will start prior to the new regime commencing, that arrangement will continue to be subject to the existing Public Contracting Regulations until the contract ends. The same principle applies to any contracts that are subject to any other associated procurement regulations, such as The Utilities Contracts Regulations.

What you need to do

If you are a supplier, you should:
* read the government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transforming-public-procurement
* sign up for regular TPP updates: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMgwpZ1kwubGUpKMLwu0ZpHS8zdWmXKgaHUJKRl-SwqQT95w/viewform
* read the government TPP Knowledge Drops: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-official-transforming-public-procurement-knowledge-drops

We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the new Central Digital Platform using these guidance videos:
* An overview of the central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI
* How to register an organisation and the first administrator in 3 easy steps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnjCa4swtjA
* Detailed walkthrough: How an administrator completes and updates supplier info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ZdbMGRqeQ
* The central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI

If you have a question about the new procurement act, contact the Transforming Public Procurement helpdesk at: procurement.reform@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Further information

There will be little change due to a continued use of existing frameworks for our Travel requirements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e3b8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005755-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63515000 - Travel services

63516000 - Travel management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Feb 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL)
Contact Name
Katy Reed
Contact Email
katy.reed@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 7767691614

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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