We have simply learned that Crown Commercial Service is today pulling the tender for its Crown Marketplace program – CMp. Crown Commercial Service released the agreement opportunity a couple of months ago for the next phase of advancement of CMp– which we have actually blogged about previously here. However, today’s news stunned the software companies who had actually taken some time to bid by announcing that the tender was being terminated:
“Further to our current interactions concerning the G-Cloud call-off for the Crown Market development phase, we have made some important decisions about the future of the program. This consists of examining our scope and focus for the immediate future and, most importantly, how we guarantee that this work is totally integrated across our Crown Commercial Service teams to make sure effective delivery. A choice has been made to focus – at least in the brief term – on successfully delivering digital projects which are already under method … hesitantly we have no option but to cancel the G-Cloud call-off competition in which you have been engaged …”
“We seriously apologise for the considerable inconvenience and wish to take this chance to express our appreciation and to thank you whole-heartedly for you efforts during the call-off procedure and for your interest and engagement in the Crown Marketplace Programme during the previous year.”
We have spoken with a number of the software application service providers who were in the running and it is fair to state that “not finest delighted” would be underplaying their feelings. Words such as “disgraceful”, “appalling” and “ridiculous” were utilized, in addition to some we can’t duplicate. “We’ve invested a substantial amount of time and money in this, simply to be told that ‘we’re not going to trouble,'” said one.Why has this happened? One of our contacts recommended that the entire initiative never had high-level Ministerial and even John Manzoni, head of the UK Civil Service, assistance. Another hypothesis is that a bidder “won” the competitors however was not really reliable; or it may be that the quotes exposed the difficulties fundamental in the specification.We will most likely discover at some phase exactly what is behind this, however it is plainly a turnaround on top priorities following Denham’s upgrade last year that “… we hosted our Supplier Open Day for potential partners. Practically 100 people from a variety of blue chip firms participated in, where a series of speakers consisting of John Manzoni, head of the UK Civil Service, Malcolm Harrison, CEO of Crown Commercial Service(CCS ), and myself outlined the significance of CMp to CCS’future strategy and the incredible chance for a future partner or partners to run the getting platform.”It is paradoxical also that the news broke on the very same day that the final evaluation centre for Malcom Harrison’s replacement as CCS CEO is happening. It’s unfortunate for Harrison too, as this means he will not precisely leave CCS next month in a blaze of magnificence– rather, with the problems of the procurement tech world sounding in his ears …
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