CETA deal almost done | Financial Post

See on Scoop.it – Public Procurement – Europe

For both Canada and the EU, the CETA will boost economic growth at a time when it is most needed

See on opinion.financialpost.com

Francis Maude speaks – is the Minister for Procurement an enemy of procurement ?

See on Scoop.it – Public Procurement – Europe

The UK parliament Public Administration select Committee last week quizzed Francis Maude, Minister with responsibility for public sector procurement. I was going to do the same as in part 1 (here) …

See on spendmatters.co.uk

Public procurement in Croatia

See on Scoop.it – Public Procurement – Europe

With accession to the European Union just weeks away our EEN partners, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, have produced a guide to the Croatian public procurement regime (attached below).

The Balkan country is expected to receive €687.5 million on 1 July 2013 in financial support from the EU, with a further €13.7 billion earmarked for the next strategic period, 2014 – 2020.

Major opportunities have been identified in agriculture, the development of business zones and business complex’s, industry, infrastructure, real estate, renewable energy, science and technology, tourism and the privatisation of state sponsored enterprises.

According to KPMG, Croatia has the highest pre – accession EU structural funds absorption rate of any Central Eastern European (CEE) country.

If the trend continues EU entry could secure a welcome boost for the Adriatic country’s economy, with many commentators already drawing parallels with Poland where over 100,000 projects costing €68 billion were completed after the democratic Republic secured membership to the European Union.

Enterprise Europe Network has 7 offices throughout Croatia ready to help you export and invest in the 28th member of the single market. Contact us for more information on how we can help your company.

See on www.enterpriseeuropeeast.org.uk

TfL recognised for ‘safer lorries’ procurement project | Official CIPS Magazine – Supply Management

See on Scoop.it – Public Procurement – Europe

A new procurement programme to make Transport for London (TfL) contractors’ lorries more cyclist-friendly has been named ‘best London cycling initiative” in the London Cycling Awards.

TfL’s ‘safer lorries’ procurement programme was praised as an essential step towards reducing the number of cyclists killed by lorries each year, and for helping to promote a “culture of safety” among haulage contractors in the capital.

As part of the programme, TfL requires contractors and drivers working for the organisation to have bronze accreditation in the authority’s Fleet Operator Recognition scheme, which ensures they are compliant with existing laws, and to take a one-day safe urban driving course.

Andy McCarroll, project manager, freight and fleet programmes at Transport for London said the course consisted of two modules – a theoretical morning module and a practical afternoon session. As part of the afternoon session, participants had to ride bicycles.

“It gives them a valuable insight into how vulnerable London’s cyclists feel,” said McCarroll. “In the morning many of them are sceptical but by the afternoon they’re really enjoying it.”

Additionally, all contractors working for the TfL have to make sure they have high-visibility mirrors installed on their vehicles.

See on www.supplymanagement.com

SME  /  Councils praised for SME procurement efforts THEBUSINESSDESK.COM

See on Scoop.it – Public Procurement – Europe

THREE North West councils, Bury, Halton and Manchester, have been highlighted as being among the best for small firms to do business with.

The North West local authorities were judged to be among the 10 best councils to do business with and were selected for their innovative procurement practices for small businesses by a panel which included industry experts and local and central government representatives.

Speaking at a reception in Downing Street, local government minister Brandon Lewis said: ““Small businesses are the heartbeat of the British economy, central to creating jobs, stimulating economic growth and innovation. But all too often we hear they are being excluded from procurement opportunities through overly bureaucratic processes.  

“It’s now time for all councils to act and make sure they cut back on unnecessary red tape which push up costs and make it harder for small firms to get on.”   

Lord Young, the Prime Minister’s enterprise adviser, said: “Taking the red tape away from the public sector procurement process will give an enormous boost to entrepreneurs and a big reduction in costs to Government.”

Mike Cherry, national policy chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Despite the scale of cuts to local authority budgets, councils still have enormous spending power. With the economy still some way from any meaningful recovery, it is essential this power is used to the full to support local economies.”

In total councils are responsible for procuring £58bn of goods and services . Lord Young recently recommended making it easier for small businesses to bid for £230bn a year of public sector contracts

See on www.thebusinessdesk.com