Crown Commercial Service Supplier
CITI APPOINTED SUPPLIER ON NEW ‘ConsultancyOne’ GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT FRAMEWORK

19th April 2013 – CITI’s expertise and experience in implementing change through project, programme and portfolio management has been recognised by Government Procurement Service. CITI has secured a place on the new pan-government consultancy procurement framework – ConsultancyOne – in the Change Management (PPM) category.

The Change Management (PPM) category lists the preferred suppliers of expertise for the management, implementation and client-side delivery of business critical programmes / projects relating to change, transformation and/or transition. This is a timely appointment – PPM is highlighted in the Civil Service Reform Plan and the related Meeting the Challenge of Change plan as a priority focus for government and listed in both plans as one of the top three responsibilities undertaken by civil servants.

For Central Government Organisations, Departments, Arms Length Bodies, (ALBs), and Non-Departmental Public Bodies, (NDPBs), other than by exception, the ConsultancyOne Framework Agreement will be the mandated route to procure consultancy services within scope, between £100k and £2m in value. It is also available as a contract route for the rest of the UK public sector including local government, health, education, devolved administrations, emergency services, defence and not for profit organisations.

Simon Green, Commercial Director for CITI, said:

“Leading figures in government have been promising easier access to public sector contracts for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for several years, but it failed to materialise; CITI has worked with the public sector many times in our 21 years of operation but the contracting side was never an easy process. Then, early in 2011, bold statements from Prime Minister, David Cameron and Cabinet Office Minister, Sir Francis Maude, followed by the appointment of Stephen Allott, the Crown Representative for SMEs, promised to address this issue, with a clearly stated target that 25% of government’s spend will be to SMEs by 2015.

This recognition of the changing nature of supply of capability and expertise is timely. SMEs make up the majority of the number of UK registered companies and make a huge contribution to the UK economy – financially and in terms of innovation and skills which the government needs to access.
ConsultancyOne promised right from the start to provide an easier bidding process and a better balance between large organisations and SMEs, and it has delivered on both promises. Even the chancellor’s budget this year provided help for growing business. It seems the government really is serious about delivering results.

Of course, the hard work is about to start. Being selected does not guarantee any business, but we know there is a real need for the expertise that we offer, and now we have an easier route to provide it where it is needed. We are delighted and excited at the prospect.”

Notes to editors:

About CITI

CITI specialises in the development and delivery of professional programme, portfolio and project management to economically significant organisations, and to the UK public sector. For more than 20 years CITI has operated as a centre for excellence, developing individual and organisational capability using those learning techniques and consultancy-based tools that research and experience from around the world has proven to work.

We have improved many organisations’ project management performance, by focusing on achieving the benefits from project and programmes, by embedding discipline in the use of methods, by establishing good project governance, and by demonstrating just what can be achieved by well-run projects – ensuring that programme, portfolio and project management is recognised and valued as an essential part of doing business well.
Further information on CITI Limited can be found at www.citi.co.uk

About Crown Commercial Service (CCS)

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is a new commercial service for Government, acting on behalf of the Crown, to drive savings for the taxpayer and improve the quality of commercial and procurement activity across the public sector.

CCS brings together, as one organisation, Government Procurement Service, the commercial function of the Cabinet Office, and common goods and services procurement and commercial management currently undertaken by departments. Its vision is to deliver value for the nation through outstanding commercial capability and quality customer service.

CCS is an executive agency of the Cabinet Office and operates as a trading fund under the Government Trading Funds Act 1973.

For media enquiries or to arrange an interview with CITI please contact Gabrielle Caldwell – Marketing Manager / 01908 283 600 / gcaldwell@citi.co.uk. Our address for any correspondance is CITI Limited, Lovat Bank, Silver Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, MK16 0EJ