Troubled Ajax programme 'far from on track' as MoD rejects contractor's claims
07 Nov Commercial

Troubled Ajax programme 'far from on track' as MoD rejects contractor's claims

MoD and former minister say new schedule to deliver Ajax armoured vehicles has not yet been agreed as noise problems remain
by Tevye Markson
NAO sounds alarm as funding shortfalls threaten departmental shared-services drive
30 Nov Commercial
NAO sounds alarm as funding shortfalls threaten departmental shared-services drive
Cabinet Office warned of ‘serious risk’ to services as UKCloud customers hit with sevenfold price increase
22 Nov Commercial
Cabinet Office warned of ‘serious risk’ to services as UKCloud customers hit with sevenfold price increase
Consultants should be made to declare lobbying of spads, MPs told
16 Nov Commercial
Consultants should be made to declare lobbying of spads, MPs told
New procurement rules: don’t simply award contracts to the lowest bidder, departments told
04 Jun 2021 Commercial
New procurement rules: don’t simply award contracts to the lowest bidder, departments told
Post-Brexit guidance sets out how public spending should drive wider benefits like jobs and environmental protection
The Queen’s Speech outlined a paradigm shift for procurement – but the challenge is yet to come Sponsored
19 May 2021 Commercial
The Queen’s Speech outlined a paradigm shift for procurement – but the challenge is yet to come
As public sector procurement emerges with a fresh focus, Proxima's John Collington explains what the changes mean in practice
PPE procurement drive left civil servants ‘drowning’ in VIP requests
23 Apr 2021 Commercial
PPE procurement drive left civil servants ‘drowning’ in VIP requests
Good Law Project says government’s “high-priority lane” for suppliers hampered officials’ ability to buy necessary equipment from legitimate suppliers
Matt Hancock owns shares in family firm that won NHS contracts
16 Apr 2021 Commercial
Matt Hancock owns shares in family firm that won NHS contracts
Health secretary's sister's company won NHS Wales contracts worth £300,000 last month
Mitie lands £90m contract for quarantine-compliance checks
16 Apr 2021 Commercial
Mitie lands £90m contract for quarantine-compliance checks
Home Office says new service will visit up to 10,000 people a day who are supposed to be isolating at home
Top commercial official ‘worked for civil service and Greensill at same time’
14 Apr 2021 Commercial
Top commercial official ‘worked for civil service and Greensill at same time’
Anti-corruption watchdog tells Cabinet Office to publish its conflicts of interest policy as clearance loophole emerges
Greensill has exposed the inherent risks of supply chain finance – how can the public sector address these? Sponsored
12 Apr 2021 Commercial
Greensill has exposed the inherent risks of supply chain finance – how can the public sector address these?
The revelation of Greensill Capital’s presence at the heart of Government has highlighted some fundamental structural risks in its supply chains, writes Proxima
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
09 Apr 2021 Commercial
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
Chancellor ‘pushed officials to explore options’ messages reveal, but no support was agreed
DHSC to pay search firm £1m for interim staff to set up Hancock's new health body
17 Mar 2021 Commercial
DHSC to pay search firm £1m for interim staff to set up Hancock's new health body
Five interim staff will fill finance-oriented roles at the National Institute for Health Protection
Execs at Serco and other government contractors given advice on honours nominations
11 Mar 2021 Commercial
Execs at Serco and other government contractors given advice on honours nominations
Bosses offered tips on successful nominations as email addresses revealed in data breach
The small island with big ambitions Sponsored
08 Mar 2021 Commercial
The small island with big ambitions
To mark International Women’s Day, Proxima asked Maria Benbow, Group Director Commercial Services at the Government of Jersey to reflect on 2020 and what lies ahead this year.
MPs demand answers over £4bn takeover bid for contracting giant G4S
02 Mar 2021 Commercial
MPs demand answers over £4bn takeover bid for contracting giant G4S
Head to head auction and takeover process raises "many questions", PAC chair says
Hancock defends DHSC in Covid procurement row
23 Feb 2021 Commercial
Hancock defends DHSC in Covid procurement row
Health secretary brushes off questions on High Court transparency decision and says it would be “ridiculous” to stop work being won by acquaintances of ministers
‘Recognise the opportunity’: departments urged to use procurement to build social value
22 Feb 2021 Commercial
‘Recognise the opportunity’: departments urged to use procurement to build social value
Central government departments and other public sector bodies can use their procurement powers to help build social value. Charlene Maginnis from the Crown Commercial Service sets out some tips on how to go about it
Hancock broke law by failing to publish DHSC coronavirus contracts on time, court finds
22 Feb 2021 Commercial
Hancock broke law by failing to publish DHSC coronavirus contracts on time, court finds
DHSC failed to meet transparency guidance on publishing details of contracts
What procurement trends will shape the public sector in 2021? Sponsored
18 Feb 2021 Commercial
What procurement trends will shape the public sector in 2021?
Rob Woodstock, chief commercial officer at HMRC, spoke with Proxima to outline three trends he foresees shaping the procurement landscape in 2021
Call to end emergency Covid procurement rules after Cummings revelations
17 Feb 2021 Commercial
Call to end emergency Covid procurement rules after Cummings revelations
Labour demands answers after former No.10 adviser admits he "expected" appointment of friends’ firm
Dominic Cummings ‘expected’ friends’ firm to get Cabinet Office contract
16 Feb 2021 Commercial
Dominic Cummings ‘expected’ friends’ firm to get Cabinet Office contract
High Court hears latest challenge to government’s emergency procurement moves
Vendor view: The impact of Covid on local government’s supplier relationships Sponsored
10 Feb 2021 Commercial
Vendor view: The impact of Covid on local government’s supplier relationships
Our sister title PublicTechnology talks to David Hipwell from SAP Concur about the role of the public sector’s commercial partners in supporting transformation and how it has changed in the past year
DfE 'unconcerned' about free school meal voucher scheme profit
05 Feb 2021 Commercial
DfE 'unconcerned' about free school meal voucher scheme profit
Department did not ask to see voucher provider Edenred's books or renegotiate contract
DfE has not tried to revise contract with free school meals voucher provider, perm sec says
25 Jan 2021 Commercial
DfE has not tried to revise contract with free school meals voucher provider, perm sec says
Officials found no “strong market alternative” to Edenred, permanent secretary says
New civil service training 'will raise standards and reduce reliance on consultants'
15 Jan 2021 Commercial
New civil service training 'will raise standards and reduce reliance on consultants'
Updated curriculum will reduce risk of duplication and offer better value for money, Cabinet Office says
Education secretary ‘absolutely disgusted’ by contractor’s school-meal parcel
13 Jan 2021 Commercial
Education secretary ‘absolutely disgusted’ by contractor’s school-meal parcel
Gavin Williamson says DfE will name and shame firms not delivering against its standards as voucher scheme is reintroduced
How the Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper is set to impact public sector procurement Sponsored
22 Dec 2020 Commercial
How the Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper is set to impact public sector procurement
The publication of the government’s green paper setting out the post-Brexit future for public procurement is a historic moment. Proxima’s John Collington sets out what it means