Innovation procurement policy
BIS is leading the Government's work to develop a public procurement culture that both stimulates innovation in the economy and helps the public sector to meet its future needs at better value for money for the taxpayer.
The UK public sector spends some £220 bn a year on goods and services. It is vital to ensure that this money is well spent. Innovation is a key driver in ensuring that the public sector is able to deliver improved public services while getting the best value for money from its spend. In doing so, innovative public procurement can also encourage the development of new technologies and innovative solutions from business.
The 2008 innovation Nation white paper committed each Government Department to include an Innovation Procurement Plan as part of its commercial strategy, setting out how the Department would embed innovation in its procurement practices and seek to use innovative procurement mechanisms. For more information, and to see the published Plans go to http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/innovation/procurement/procurement-plans
Guidance
A pamphlet, Driving innovation through public procurement, has been launched to provide guidance to those working in government on how they can utilise the purchasing power of the public sector to drive both buyer and supplier innovation in the procurement process. Using clear examples, the pamphlet demonstrates the positive steps that procurers can take at the various stages of the procurement process to encourage innovation.
Finding and Procuring Innovative Solutions (August 2007) provides a number of detailed approaches for finding and procuring innovative solutions. The guide gives practical advice through the use of case studies from the NHS, HM Prison Service and London Fire & Emergency Services.
