New Toolkit promises revolution in public sector project delivery.

M2 PRESSWIRE-28 May 2002-UK Government: New Toolkit promises revolution in public sector project delivery (C)1994-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:05282002

Smarter access to best practice and value for money procurement guidance is the public sector's prize for the Office of Government Commerce's vision in bringing together a single entity 'Successful Delivery Toolkit', Chief Executive Peter Gershon announced today.

For the first time a single point of reference is accessible either over the internet or through CD Rom and available for public sector procurement professionals seeking to apply the principles of best practice guidance across a whole range of procurement activities.

Peter Gershon added: "By distilling current best practice and value for money guidance into a single body of knowledge, central government departments, local authorities and NDPBs can now access the procurement guidance they need both quickly and effectively."

Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said: "This development is a major step forward in ensuring public sector departments and organisations spend taxpayer's money wisely. It should greatly reduce the risk of major, complex or high-risk government procurement projects failing through insufficient use of established best practice."

The collected guidance is designed to help the public sector effectively procure goods and services by advising on every step of the acquisition process, from the initial concept, throughout the lifespan of the acquisition of the project, to the successful end of the contract.

The release of 'Successful Delivery Toolkit' marks the latest initiative from the OGC in its drive to improve the capability of public sector clients when procuring goods and services. Previous OGC innovations include the implementation of the highly successful Gateway Review process, which is now widely recognized as a major tool in the promotion of best practice methods within large, complex and novel public sector procurement projects.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Successful Delivery Toolkit can be viewed on-line at http://www.ogc.gov.uk/sdtoolkit/

2. CD-ROM copies of Successful Delivery Toolkit are also available from the OGC Servicedesk free of charge on 0845 000 4 999

3. A video has been published explaining the way in which to apply best practice guidance and is also available from the OGC Servicedesk.

4. OGC was set up in April 2000 to act as a catalyst for improving departments' commercial activities in the field of procurement.

Following an Alignment Review, which took effect on 02 April 2001, the OGC formally absorbed the work of the former PACE (Property Advisers to the Civil Estate) and CCTA (Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency), excluding its Managed Services Division, which has now merged with the former TBA. The former TBA (The Buying Agency) became an OGC Trading Fund in its own right - OGCbuying.solutions.

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