Further competitions
Overview
Once you have selected the CCS framework that meets your requirements, you can ask the suppliers listed to bid, a process called a further competition. This may be run under any CCS framework which has multiple suppliers as an alternative to a direct award.
How to buy
Use CCS’s free eSourcing tool to run a further competition among the suppliers listed against the framework and lot you have selected. Or use your own organisation’s sourcing tool.The main stages of running a further competition are detailed in the buyers’ guides of each agreement. Generally they are:
- pre-market engagement with suppliers to help you define requirements (optional)
- define your requirements and invitation to tender (ITT)
- invite suppliers on the specified agreement and lot to bid by issuing the ITT, requirements document and draft contract
- evaluate suppliers’ responses
- award a contract to the successful supplier and notify unsuccessful suppliers
- include a 10 day standstill period (optional)
Best for:
- creating competition for high-value or complex goods and services: anything from stationary to complex facility management contracts.
Not appropriate for:
- low-value purchases where the time and cost of running a further competition is disproportionate to the goods and services supplied.
- niche goods and services which may only be offered by specialist vendors and not available via CCS agreements
- urgent requirements
Payment methods
Purchase order raised within your organisation
Who can use
Any UK public sector organisation, registered social landlords (Housing Associations), and charities.
Time to supply
- producing your requirements and ITT documents can take from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the goods and services.
- the time between starting a further competition and delivery will depend on the complexity of your requirements and the number of bids you need to evaluate. You should allow at least 6 to 8 weeks to complete your further competition process.
- if you are running a further competition that is assisted by a CCS call-off team, there is a 30 working day service level agreement: 10 days to prepare tender documents; 10 days for suppliers to submit responses; 10 days to evaluate responses and recommend an award.
Pros
- thorough, open and fair method to find the best price for complex requirements
- reduced timescales in comparison to an OJEU procurement
- opportunity to evaluate multiple responses over a range of prices.
- terms and conditions can be amended
Cons
- slower than direct award
- higher administration time and cost than direct award