We published an update last year regarding the OJEU alternative in a no-deal Brexit. Earlier this year, it was then announced that the UK Government will have their own e-notification service called Find a Tender (FTS), which will be in place from 1 January 2021. Currently, all UK public sector procurement is via the OJEU process and EU regulations but, following Brexit, this will be replaced.
Find a Tender
As we approach the end of the transition period to leave the EU, new rules will be in place from January 2021. For any organisations procuring or providing goods and services, one of the key changes is the e-notification services for procurement.
Find a Tender (FTS) will be used to post and view all public sector procurement notices, and will be available from 11pm 31 December 2020. If you currently use Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), then this is where you need to update your approach and search via Find a Tender from the end of this year.
Various other portals and websites such as Contracts Finder, Sell2Wales, Public Contracts Scotland will still be in place and you will still be able to use them alongside Find a Tender.
Preparing for the change in tender directory
Whether you are a bid team responding to tenders or a contracting authority issuing invitations to tenders, it is important to be aware of the change in the procurement process towards the end of 2020. Currently, the government has provided outline advice on the new rules for January 2021, and it is thought more information will be released in the coming months so that bid teams can prepare accordingly.
The change is scheduled to take place at the end of the calendar year, which can be a busy holiday period and tenders can be released with short deadlines. It is therefore important that you monitor government advice. Ensure your organisation does not miss out on any important tender opportunities as a result of failing to be up to date with the UK procurement process.
Tendering for the remainder of 2020
During the transition period, the tender process will remain in line with current EU regulations. Generally, TED or Contracts Finder are the most popular tender portals to source and apply for contract opportunities, at the moment.
Executive Compass are one of the leading tender writing firms in the UK and can support organisations through any bid or tender writing requirement, whether you need support through the current process to tender in 2020 or following the transition period. We also publish a select list of contract opportunities for free on our website, available to download.
Contact our team today to discuss how we can support you and secure more business for your organisation.