Planning

Couriers 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 16:14

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a procurement process for "Couriers TPP Comms to Market" under the courier services category. This process, currently in the planning stage, is guided by the new Procurement Act 2023, which aims to simplify and open up public procurement. The planned changes will take effect on 24 February 2025. Key industry classifications include various postal and courier services, with a focus on parcel delivery and transport services. The procurement method is tender-based, with Defra acting as the main buying organization located in London, UK.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for firms specialised in courier and postal services. Businesses that can offer efficient and reliable postal services, including parcel transport by road and railway, are well-suited to compete. The new procurement framework is designed to be more accessible to SMEs and innovative businesses. New features include a central digital platform and a simplified bidding process, which could lower barriers to entry and provide a level playing field for new market entrants. Companies currently holding Defra contracts should prepare for a seamless transition by familiarising themselves with the new regulations and digital tools.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Couriers TPP Comms to Market

Notice Description

Communication only

Lot Information

Lot 1

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates to Corporate Services - Couriers 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.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e452
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005960-2025
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

18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

18933000 - Mail or parcel bags

60160000 - Mail transport by road

60161000 - Parcel transport services

60220000 - Mail transport by railway

64100000 - Post and courier services

64110000 - Postal services

64113000 - Postal services related to parcels

64120000 - Courier services

64121000 - Multi-modal courier services

64121100 - Mail delivery services

64121200 - Parcel delivery services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
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
Defra Group Commercial
Contact Email
network.procurement@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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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