The MCA has welcomed the Cabinet Office’s announcement today of a new approach to buying consulting services
The MCA has welcomed the Cabinet Office’s announcement today of a new approach to buying consulting services which, the MCA says, has the potential to generate improved value for money for taxpayers. The announcement follows discussions between the MCA and the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG).
The new framework, called ConsultancyONE, responds to reports from the National Audit Office in 2006 and 2010 and is designed to give taxpayers assurance that consultancy services are bought when they are needed and in a way that maximizes the return on investment. Specifically, it should end the practice of buying temporary labour and classifying it as consulting. It will also provide buyers with access to a wider range of quality consulting firms, including many smaller and niche consultancies.
Commenting on the announcement Alan Leaman, Chief Executive of the MCA said:
"The government has now put some clear water between value-adding management consultancy and temporary staffing or body shopping. These are different services and need to be separated in the buying process. Confusion between the two was often at the root of the reputational damage for the consulting industry.”
He also welcomed new opportunities for smaller and specialist consultancies.
“Government buyers should have access to a wide range of quality firms who are capable of doing great work.”
Alan Leaman added: “Consultancies are ready to help this government achieve its difficult objectives of deficit reduction and improved public services. One of the key tasks for government departments is to get the best out of the extraordinary expertise and skill that is available in the UK’s consulting industry. Today’s new approach should help them to do so.”
Changes in the new framework that will come into effect in March 2012 will:
• end the buying of expensive temporary staff to cover staffing shortfalls, disguised as consulting
• increase transparency and fairness
• improve value for money for the taxpayer
• focus users of consultancy on obtaining best value and results from consultancies
• make it easier for smaller and specialist consultancies to bid for government work
• introduce a new open-access web based bidding system for Government contracts under £100,000
The MCA added: “We will continue to work closely with the Cabinet Office to ensure that the public sector gets maximum value from its use of consultancy.”
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
MCA PR and Communications Officer
Konstantinos Makrygiannis
Tel: 020 7321 3993
Email: Konstantinos.makrygiannis@mca.org.uk