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Strategic suppliers see public sector income fall
Select group of service providers is doing well despite a second year of decline in their share of this market.
Mitie secures five-year deal with HMRC
New contract covers integrated FM services across the East Region of the department’s estate.
Sodexo in multi-site HMRC win
Integrated workplace services contract covers 24 sites across the western part of the UK.
Amey in prison hard services win
New contract awarded for management of hard FM at HMP Lowdham Grange.
Planning for the end of PFI
Over 150 projects will transfer to the public sector over the next five years. That brings with it some risks.
ISS confirms DWP win
Major contract signed for service delivery at multiple Department for Work and Pensions sites.
Government hub named leading workplace
Peterborough site has gained Leesman+ certification.
Waste strategy fails to deliver
A review of the 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy has found that only a fifth of the policies have been fully implemented.
SMEs missing out on government contracts
Only 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was with SMEs in 2023.
Reconomy offers plan for waste sector
10-point regulatory framework aims to help new government reform the sector.
DfT renews Mitie deal
The Department for Transport has awarded the FM group a new seven-year contract.
CIWM issues resources policy blueprint
A new policy framework is urgently required to deliver a circular economy and resource resilience, the group says.
Serco gets 10 years at Ashfield
The contract renewal at HMP Ashfield in South Gloucestershire is worth £200m.
Mitie in the UK’s first ‘green’ prison win
Mitie Care & Custody has been awarded the contract to operate HMP Millsike.
CCS updates on the Procurement Act 2023
The Crown Commercial Service has compiled advice ahead of the expected autumn implementation.
Property bodies call for clarification on MEES
The minimum energy efficiency standards went out for consultation in 2021 – so what now?
GPA awards four contracts
The Government Property Agency has appointed advisors to support delivery of its Workplace Services Projects.
New FM leader for central government
Saurabh Bhandari joins Office of Government Property to lead estate transformation programmes.
GPA moves on biodiversity
New guidance document reflects the aim of tackling biodiversity loss.
HMRC names Mitie for security
Mitie appointed to provide security services at 40 sites nationwide.
Entegra in CCS success
The Sodexo procurement solutions business has been named to a key public sector agreement.
OCS named for CCS framework
OCS has been awarded a place on the Crown Commercial Service framework for RM6331 Healthcare Soft Facilities Management Services.
Industry looking for embodied carbon regulation
As the UK prepares for an eventual election, industry bodies are increasingly calling on parties to make manifesto commitments.
BCIS calls for priority on repairs and maintenance
The Building Cost Information Service is asking the government to address urgent R&M issues.
Q4 sees continued fall in public sector FM deals
The trend is up and down over time, but our latest report finds a considerable decline in activity for the final quarter of 2023.
Government sells £1bn of property
New figures in the Government Estate Annual Data Publication confirm £1.1bn of property sales in 2022/23.
Strategic suppliers see revenue slip
Top public sector supply partners have seen a decline in their overall sector revenue of 17% in the past year.
Sodexo extends six public sector contracts
The Government division has renewed deals with a combined value of £34m.
VIVO launches Dstl contract
VIVO Defence Services is now providing facilities management services for the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory.
OCS in Land Registry win
The five-year contract ensures a total facilities management solution across HMLR’s UK office estate.
OCS confirms five-year GPA contract
The contract, to be delivered by Atalian Servest, covers 69 sites.
Office for Students recruits Pareto
Pareto FM has won a hard services contract with the higher education body.
Q3 sees £1bn of public sector FM deals
The UK government awarded more than 250 contracts relating to facilities management in Q3 2023, worth a total of £1.1b.
SBFM to roll out academies in prisons
The soft services company is set to launch new HMP Academies to support the rehabilitation of prison leavers.
CIPD publishes ‘Manifesto for Good Work’
The focus is HR but much of this extends into FM, too.
ISS confirms GPA contract wins
The facilities services business has secured three FM contracts for the Government Property Agency.
GPA names COO
The Government Property Agency has appointed Lisa Commane as chief operating officer.
Net zero: UK nations need to work together
Effective working relationships between the UK and devolved governments will be key to achieving net zero by 2050.
GPA wins for ISS, Atalian Servest and Mitie
The Government Property Agency says the contracts are part of its UK-wide workplace services transformation programme.
Mitie in five-year GPA win
New contract covers 19 sites across the Government Property Agency’s Central region.
Amey supporting MoJ net zero goals
The services group is leading on a smart meter installation project across 36 prison sites.
Amey locks up MoJ extension
The Ministry of Justice has extended its contract for prison maintenance services in the north of the country.
Public sector deals jump in value
The number of contracts procured in Q2 2023 fell against Q1, but total value was up more than £250%.
GPA appoints ISS in two regions
The Government Property Agency has awarded new security contracts to ISS as part of its Workplace Services Transformation Programme.
JLL extends role with FCDO
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has appointed JLL to provide FM and property-related services in multiple countries across Europe.
Mitie extends FCDO deal
The deal covers TFM services for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office sites in London and at Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes.
MPs worry about lack of green plan
A new report from the Public Accounts Committee calls on Whitehall to pull together numerous decarbonisation plans into a coherent strategy.
ISS scoops Defra deal
Due to start in February next year, the seven-year contract covers multiple services for multiple sites.
Home Office appoints Serco
The Home Office Immigration Enforcement department has appointed Serco to manage the Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre.
DMA named as CCS supplier
The building services group has been added as a supplier on the Crown Commercial Service’s FM and workplace DPS system.
G4S secures FCDO contract
G4S Secure Solutions has won a multi-million-pound contract for services at several Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office buildings.
PAC slams slow progress on Parliament refurb
The Public Accounts Committee laments that, after decades of broad consensus on the need for repairs and restoration, progress has been painfully slow.
Public sector: top FM business winners
A new report from public sector procurement specialist Tussell reviews market trends to identify 150 ‘FM Titans’.
Public sector procurement on the rise
The number of contracts awarded for FM services in the public sector rose in Q1 2023, reversing 2022’s second half decline.
Climate crisis: built environment can deliver viable solutions
But, warns the UK Green Building Council, only with the political will to scale up those solutions.
UKGBC joins Energy Efficiency Taskforce
The council says it is committed to bringing the voice of the sustainable built environment sector to the mission to improve energy efficiency in the UK.
Top Leesman rating for government office
The Government Property Agency has achieved Leesman+ certification at its Birmingham Hub.
Funds committed for delivery of building safety
Funding has been announced for recruitment and training of building control inspectors and fire inspectors working with the Building Safety Regulator.
Government jobs move north
More than 11,000 government roles have been relocated out of London to sites across the UK.
BESA urges clarity on energy policy
The Building Engineering Services Association has welcomed the creation of a new government department dedicated to delivering energy security and net zero.
JLL named GPA workplace partner
The Government Property Agency has appointed JLL as its strategic partner for workplace services performance.
Sodexo to support workplace transformation
A three-year contract with The Insolvency Service covers strategic programme and advisory services to support its Transforming Workplaces Project.
Energy: government must speed up spending
The Building Engineering Services Association is calling for the government to accelerate investment in energy efficiency and heat pumps.
Public sector procurement slips again
Contract awards for FM services in the public sector fell for a second quarter to the end of 2022.
Energy bills support: follow-on plan concerns
With the Energy Bill Relief Scheme due to end in March, the government has announced the Energy Bills Discount Scheme beginning in April.
Mitie to deliver DWP charging points
A £4.3m contract covers the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at more than 120 job centres across Britain.
Sodexo in 10-year prison win
The Ministry of Justice has awarded Sodexo the £260m contract to manage HMP Altcourse.
Property management plans challenged
A new report warns that plans for managing the government’s extensive property estate portfolio are out of sync with market conditions and lack ambition to reduce costs.
Net zero: ‘alarming lack of progress’
A new scorecard from the UK Green Building Council shows that government has fallen behind on decarbonising the built environment over the past year.
Government publishes first FM strategy
The document establishes a coordinated, cross-government vision for facilities management, setting the strategic approach and standards for ‘what good looks like’.
Business bodies call for net zero support
Two associations have responded to the government’s Net Zero Review by underscoring the need for leadership and support.
Public sector procurement falls
Contract awards for FM services in the public sector were at a two-year low in Q3 2022.
Mitie lands double extension at DWP
The Department for Work and Pensions has award one-plus-one year extensions to contracts for facilities management and provision of life systems services.
Building retrofits needed to support Truss plan
Rab Fletcher, president of the Building Engineering Services Association, argues that more positive action is required to deliver the necessary impact.
Sodexo awarded £264m prison contract
The company will manage HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire, following a competitive tender process.
Mitie in charge point win
The FM group has won a £4.5m contract to install and maintain electric vehicle charge points for the Environment Agency.
Government lacks good data on property
A lack of good data is a major barrier for central government in making effective decisions about property.
Market insight: public sector procurement picks up
FM-related deals in the public sector were worth a total of £872m in the second quarter of this year, up significantly on Q1 levels.
CCS confirms ‘social value-enabled’ FM framework
The Crown Commercial Service has awarded 44 suppliers places on its new Facilities Management and Workplace Services framework.
GPA partners with BNP Paribas
The Government Property Agency’s new strategic partner will advise on national property and property-related financial services.
New CEO at GFSL
Matthew Garner has been appointed interim chief executive officer at Gov Facility Services Ltd.
ISS extends GPA deal
ISS has agreed an 18-month extension of its contract with the Government Property Agency.
GPA updates on contract progress
The Government Property Agency has several FM contracts in the works, one to be awarded soon and more to follow early in the summer.
Market insight: public sector procurement falls in Q1
FM-related deals in the public sector were worth a total of £360m in the first quarter of this year, slipping back to 2020 levels.
Whitehall publishes digital playbook
FM singled out amongst the areas targeted for transformation in how services are assessed, procured and managed.
GPA sets out facilities management standards
The Government Property Agency, Whitehall’s in-house property advisor, has published standards on management of services and asset data.
GPA identifies trends for 2022
This year will be a pivotal one for the workplace, says the Government Property Agency.
Serco in wide-ranging MoJ win
A new 10-year contract sees the company taking responsibility for Her Majesty’s Prison and Young Offender Institute Fosse Way.
Senior appointments at GPA
The Government Property Agency has brought in two new directors as it continues to strengthen its team.
Public sector FM deals hit 2-year high
In 2021, government procurement for FM services was worth over £5bn, nearly double the value of FM procurement in the year before.
Net zero: businesses look to Whitehall for support
An Institute of Directors’ poll finds companies ready to work towards net zero but looking to government for financial support and guidance.
Government aims to open door for SMEs
The newly published ‘Selling to Government Guide’ offers information on how to bid for and win government contracts.
Wates completes MoJ Covid-19 response programme
Wates Smartspace was appointed by the Ministry of Justice to carry out mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering upgrade works at 21 HM Courts & Tribunals Service sites.
Government publishes Net Zero Estate Playbook
A new guide to decarbonising public sector buildings and creating a net zero public estate has been launched by the Cabinet Office.
FM framework webinar
Baachu, the facilities management marketing and business development consultancy, is planning a free webinar focused on the upcoming £35bn RM 6232 contract opportunity.
CCS publishes FM contract notice
Valued at £35bn, the new ‘collaborative agreement’ will have a life of four years and cover facilities management and workplace services.
Greener rules for government suppliers
New measures requiring businesses bidding for major government contracts to commit to achieving net zero emissions have come into force.
Public sector procurement: could do better for SMEs
Over 90% of British SMEs think the public sector should do more to remove the tendering barriers they face when bidding for contracts.
Bellrock confirms place on CCS framework
The company has joined others listed as suppliers on the Crown Commercial Service’s Estate Management Services framework.
Mitie secures DWP contract
The group’s Central Government and Defence team has won a new life systems contract with the Department for Work and Pensions.
Sodexo secures place on CCS framework
Sodexo’s Integrator business has been named as a supplier on the new £500m Estate Management Services Framework.
Market insight: 176 public sector contracts in Q2
The public sector continues to be fertile ground for new contracts, with FM-related deals totalling almost £230m awarded in the second quarter of this year.
Local government and net zero: more to be done
Central government has not provided local authorities with clarity about their roles in achieving net zero by 2050, and its approach to funding their net zero work is piecemeal.
DVLA checks the route ahead
The Swansea-headquartered agency is planning for what comes next, with its 20-year outsourcing deal due to end in 2025.
Market insight: £465m in new contracts in Q1
The public sector should probably be on your business development target list. Over 180 new FM contracts were awarded in the first quarter of this year, according to public procurement experts Tussell.
BSI to monitor government sustainability performance
The standards group has been selected to assess the G7 Summit and COP26 events against the international sustainability standard, ISO 20121.
Procurement guidance published
New guidance sets out how public spending should help drive wider benefits, from job creation to helping protect the environment.
Government tightens focus on consulting and procurement
A new strategy and consulting hub has been launched to boost internal expertise across government.
The future of asset management
Technology is changing asset management fast, as illustrated by a new contract awarded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Mitie in 7-year Scotland win
The win extends a 13-year partnership with the Scottish Government.
Government publishes vision for decarbonisation
The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy aims to slash emissions by two-thirds in just 15 years.
Imtech Inviron on Parliament Framework
The hard services provider has been selected as a UK Parliament Framework provider.
Another CCS place for Mitie
The FM group has been named as a supplier on the Crown Commercial Service agreement for building cleaning services.
Fusion21 launches £1.1bn framework
Procurement organisation and social enterprise Fusion21 has announced the launch of its national Workplace & Facilities Framework. It is now inviting bids from interested suppliers.
Calls for POE on all publicly funded buildings
Post-occupancy evaluation should be standard practice to ensure all new buildings meet intended energy efficiency ratings and provide optimum value for money.
Social value in procurement model launched
Businesses seeking to win government work will need to set out how they will also deliver social value priorities, following new measures introduced last week.
Wates FM extends HMRC deal
The service provider has expanded its partnership with HMRC after a "hugely successful" first year.
MoJ's "naïve" approach to outsourcing slammed
A new report condemns the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service's "failure" in attempts to improve the condition and suitability of the prison estate.
Amey scoops Highways England FM contract
Amey has been appointed to provide facilities and estate management services across an extensive and growing operational estate.
Call for more clarity on social value in contracts
New CBI research suggests that progress on embedding social value in government contracts is being slowed by confusion around definitions and application.
Covid-19: new framework for return-to-work technology
A procurement framework to help public sector organisations access technology that supports social distancing in the workplace has been launched.
Report highlights simmering problems within the NHS
The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee issued a new report this week highlighting a number of areas where urgent action is required, including around the state of the NHS estate.
CCS opens new Facilities Management Marketplace portal
Buyers from both central government and the wider public sector can access the online portal to purchase a range of FM services, from maintenance and cleaning to security and catering.
CBI calls on government to back green recovery
Fast-tracking green investment and making rapid progress towards net-zero emissions while delivering sustainable jobs must be central to recovery plans, the CBI says.
Lessons from the US: influencing government
The High Performance Buildings Coalition, based in Washington, represents about 200 organisations involved in building efficiency, innovation and sustainability. Its key focus is the US Congress.
Updated Outsourcing Playbook published
The Outsourcing Playbook, designed to ensure that government and the private sector work together well, has been revised and updated.
BCC seeks to meet minister
The British Cleaning Council has written to the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets to ask for a meeting to discuss key industry issues.
Government publishes back-to-work guidance
A series of publications aim to offer practical guidelines to make workplaces as safe as possible and give people confidence to go back to work during the pandemic.
Public sector outsourcing market may be stabilising
April saw a 66% in new public sector contract opportunities compared to February according to Tussell, the market intelligence firm.
FM suppliers for MoD training estate named
Five service providers have secured places on a new Crown Commercial Service agreement to support facilities management for the UK's Defence Training estate.
Amey extends prisons role
Amey has recently started to install the first wave of temporary cells at two facilities as part of the battle to reduce the spread of covid-19 within the prison estate.
Landscaping industry asks for help
Three major plants and landscaping bodies are pressing their case with the government for a rescue package for the industry.
Employers urged to issue letters to cleaners
Employers of cleaning staff operating in critical industries have been urged to provide them with written proof that they should be treated as critical and key workers.
Cabinet Office asks outsourcers to work together
Outsourcing groups have been asked to share staff resources to ensure the delivery of public sector contracts, according to reports.
Calls for key worker status grow
Following the publication of the key worker list last week the government has been on the receiving end of appeals to add further disciplines, initially cleaning and security and now FM.
Industry to provide buildings for key workers
Organisations representing thousands of professionals across the surveying, architectural and planning specialisms have written to the Prime Minister to offer their help in fighting back against the growing coronavirus epidemic.
Public sector ordered to pay suppliers immediately
The Cabinet Office has published guidance for public bodies on payment of their suppliers to ensure service continuity during and after the current coronavirus outbreak.
Vinci wins in Wales
Vinci Facilities has won a three-year total facilities management contract with Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic monument service, across its entire estate.
Think-tank warns on dangers of 'another Carillion'
The Institute for Government argues that Whitehall has yet to address the problems that led to the collapse of the construction and services group two years ago.
HMRC calls in Atalian Servest again
The FM provider has secured its fourth contract with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in less than 18 months.
Mitie lands Home Office deal
Mitie has secured a three-year contract to provide security services to the Home Office.
ENGIE secures place on CCS framework
ENGIE has been named as a supplier on Lot 6 of the new Crown Commercial Service RM6017 Postal Goods, Services and Solutions framework.
Prisons: contracting out services has failed
That's the top-line conclusion of a damning report published late last week by the National Audit Office, the parliamentary spending watchdog.
FCO contract staff to strike
February sees staff on Interserve's contract at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ready to launch one month's strike action in a simmering dispute over union recognition.
CBI offers Outsourcing Playbook follow-up
A new report from the business group outlines a series of measures both the public and private sectors can take to improve the management of contracts.
The cost of Carillion's collapse
The National Audit Office has published the findings of its investigation into two PFI hospitals that Carillion was building at the time it failed in January 2018.
Courts contracts for OCS and ENGIE
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has awarded two contracts worth a combined £1.1bn over nine years.
UK public procurement up 17% in 2019
Over 2000 buyers awarded more than 45,000 contracts adding up to £93bn in total value, according to public sector specialists Tussell.
Go green, says RICS
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched its General Election 2019 manifesto, calling on the future government to move past Brexit and to overhaul current domestic policies to build a more sustainable country.
Interserve wins extension on multi-department deal
The group has secured a six-month extension to provide total facilities management services at a London site used by eight government departments.
Liquidator finds £500m for Carillion creditors
The Insolvency Service has recovered £510m as all the strands of the collapsed contractor are wound up.
NHS Property Services: set up to fail
That's the assessment from the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee in a new report listing a series of problems faced by NHSPS, coupled with recommendations for action.
CBI calls for decade of action on climate change
The run up to the COP26 meeting in the UK must be used by the next government to kick-start ambitious and focused action to tackle the climate emergency.
PHS lands supply contract for 20,000 schools
The Department for Education has appointed PHS Group to provide free period products for girls and young women in schools and colleges throughout England.
Committees seek update on Carillion investigations
The chairs of the parliamentary Work and Pensions and Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy committees have requested progress reports from the Insolvency Service and the Financial Reporting Council.
Mitie scoops nationwide deal with HMRC
Mitie has won a five-year contract to provide technology-led security services to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
Whitehall's Strategic Suppliers: new insights
Tussell, the public sector procurement advisor, reports that central government's 'Strategic Suppliers' will be earning £10bn over the 2018/19 contract year.
Sodexo introduces new Public Service Pledge
Sodexo has published the third edition of its unique set of strategic and ethical commitments to its customers, employees and the communities in which it operates.
CBI calls for reform of apprenticeship levy
Urgent steps must be taken by government to reform the apprenticeship levy in England so firms can offer more of the high-quality training they need to succeed.
Whitehall introduces new prompt payment rules
New rules designed to make sure government suppliers pay their bills on time came into force on 1 September.
The CCS framework place industry
Recent moves by the Crown Commercial Service suggest that securing a place on a service provision framework has become a bit of an industry in itself, with a growing number of third-party organisations promising assistance.
Mitie on Prison Operator Services framework
The Ministry of Justice launched the POS framework to manage a pipeline of competition for new prisons and, potentially, existing privately managed prisons over the next six years.
Interserve named to Prison Operator Services framework
Interserve Group has been awarded a place on the new Ministry of Justice £4bn framework agreement.
Catch 22 secures place on CCS framework
The recruitment services specialist has been selected for the new Crown Commercial Service framework for non-clinical staff across the NHS and a wide variety of governmental and public sector organisations.
New PM has 'once in a generation' chance to transform buildings
The new government team led by Boris Johnson has an unprecedented opportunity to dramatically shift policy on the built environment and deliver higher standards of safety, sustainability and social justice.
Union calls for indefinite action at BEIS
A dispute over pay rates for outsourced staff at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has been rumbling on for months. Now the union involved has increased the stakes, with plans for "indefinite" strike action.
Sodexo in two HMRC wins
HM Revenue and Customs has awarded the group a new contract covering soft services in two regions.
Kier sell-off: public sector contracts on the way out
When construction and services group Kier, a 'Strategic Supplier' to government, sells a portfolio of non-core businesses this will include off-loading £200m in public sector contracts.
NHS Property Services: must do better
NHSPS has met many of its objectives, including in FM, but it lacks the powers to solve other growing problems, according to parliamentary watchdog the National Audit Office.
ENGIE team in major Canadian energy win
Innovate Energy has closed a 35-year public-private partnership contract to modernise, maintain and operate the district energy system that heats and cools multiple buildings in Canada's capital region.
Businesses call for legislation on net zero economy
More than 120 leading UK businesses, investors and business networks are calling on the UK government to put climate neutrality by 2050 into legislation immediately.
Swing to frameworks leaving service providers behind
Public procurement specialist Tussell says that facilities management suppliers are missing out on hundreds of opportunities with the public sector because they aren't listed on some of the most important frameworks.
Mitie confirms CCS framework success
The group has been named as a supplier on the Crown Commercial Service facilities management frameworks for security and defence.
Government warns on paying on time
More than 10,000 businesses have been warned by the government that they must pay their suppliers on time or face being prevented from winning further government contracts.
Think-tank urges better public sector procurement
Reform, which focuses on public services improvement, has published a lengthy analysis of commissioning policy and practice in England, culminating in a series of recommendations.
Public procurement standard out for consultation
Views are being sought on a new draft standard that sets out generic requirements for organisations providing products and services to the public sector.
Atalian Servest in HMRC's sights
A new contract award positions the company as a critical engineering services provider to HMRC across its central region within the UK.
Government 'shake up' around contracts and social value
Businesses that want to secure future government contracts will be urged to show they can also help improve society by tackling issues such as modern slavery and climate change.
Vinci lands DfE FM contract
The Department for Education has awarded a four-year multi-services contract to Vinci Facilities.
HMRC turns its focus on Bellrock
Bellrock is to support HMRC in its northern region to deliver the department's smart building vision, part of the biggest modernisation of the UK tax system in a generation.
Whitehall publishes Outsourcing Playbook
A new guide on outsourcing decisions and contracting has been designed to improve how government works with industry and to deliver better public services.
Central government, contracts and the way forward
Outsourcing has been firmly in the news again as we pass the anniversary of the Carillion collapse and learn more about the situation at other big-name firms, as well as government thinking on the future.
Living wills become a thing in FM
Central government is looking seriously at them as a requirement for key service providers, and that may set the scene for broader application.
NAO questions NHS financial sustainability
In its annual report on the NHS, the National Audit Office concludes that substantial deficits in some parts, offset by surpluses elsewhere coupled with growing waiting lists and increases in waiting times, does not paint a picture that is sustainable.
Facilities services staff at MoJ set to strike
Outsourced staff including security guards, cleaners and receptionists at the Ministry of Justice are planning a 48-hour strike beginning 21 January, which may force MoJ offices to close.
Government outsourcing: "a turbulent year"
An annual review from public procurement analyst Tussell also highlights some key trends for the future.
Government cut-backs: some positive news
New figures from the Cabinet Office show that the size of the government estate has continued to fall, along with costs, resource consumption and emissions.
Understanding the scale of government contracting
Government spends £284bn a year on buying goods and services from external suppliers. That's around a third of all public expenditure.
Crack down on supplier payment
Whitehall has announced a new prompt-payment initiative to ensure all government suppliers and subcontractors benefit from being paid on time.
New contracts to "revolutionise government procurement"
Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington has announced new measures to deliver better public services and use contracts as a "force for good".
MoD plans to diversify supply base
The Ministry of Defence has announced plans for modernising its estate and establishing a broader and more diverse supply base.
CCS tackles renewable energy for government
The Crown Commercial Service is setting out to make it easier for public bodies to reduce their carbon footprint by launching a new agreement that makes renewable energy easier to source.
100% Hackitt campaign launched
An industry initiative to encourage the government to deliver all of the recommendations contained in Dame Judith Hackitt's report has been launched with the backing of two key industry bodies.
Think-tank takes on PFI
The Private Finance Initiative has been a controversial policy virtually from the day it was introduced in the early '90s. Nowhere has this been more so than in the UK health sector and one group has been looking at alternative strategies.
Vinci lands £38m Welsh Government TFM deal
Vinci Facilities has won a new five-year contract with the Department of Economy and Infrastructure to provide total facilities management and affiliated services across its property portfolio.
ISS retains Irish Parliament contract
ISS Ireland has been reappointed to deliver cleaning and related services at the Houses of the Oireachtas for a further four years.
Amey wins UKHO contract
The UK Hydrographic Office has awarded a three-year contract to Amey covering a range of facilities management services at its new head office.
MPs slam government on supplier oversight
Two parliamentary committees, working together to look at the lessons from the Carillion collapse and how Whitehall manages major service providers, have registered alarm about a lack of action.
ISS in multi-site win with BEIS
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has awarded ISS a four-year contract covering over 50 sites.
Amey takes over MoD contracts
Amey has completed the acquisition of the Ministry of Defence Regional Prime and National Housing Prime contracts, picking up the agreements formerly jointly held with Carillion.
Government outsourcing bounces back
Public sector outsourcing spend increased sharply in the first six months of 2018 despite a backdrop of Brexit uncertainty.
Interserve extends FCO deal
The new five-year contract to provide total facilities management services for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is worth £67m.
iSite appointed to G-Cloud 10 Framework
Software specialist iSite has been awarded supplier status on the government's G-Cloud 10 Framework, making it available to government departments and the wider public sector.
BIFM welcomes PAC recommendations
The British Institute of Facilities Management has welcomed recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee following its Strategic Suppliers Inquiry.
PAC singles out government procurement failings
The latest report from the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee highlights a series of flaws in central government procurement policy and procedure.
CCS launches FM Marketplace, confirms providers list
The Crown Commercial Service has launched the Facilities Management Marketplace agreement, designed to give the public sector access to a wide range of suppliers for their FM requirements.
Carillion exposes flaws in government outsourcing
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has published a hard-hitting report on the Carillion saga.
Whitehall offers simplified public sector contract
The government has launched a new, simplified contract designed to make it easier for businesses to apply for public sector work.
Government announces post-Carillion changes
Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington has unveiled a package of new measures designed to promote "a healthy and diverse marketplace" of companies bidding for government contracts.
NAO reviews Carillion's final months, and the cost
The National Audit Office has published an investigation into the government's handling of the collapse of Carillion. The likely cost to taxpayers is £148m, though that could well rise.
Strategic suppliers inquiry launched
We've argued several times that the Carillion collapse has to mean something for the industry, ideally in terms of lessons learned. Certainly the groundwork for that is being laid by the number of examinations spurred at central government level.
Committees launch next round of Carillion inquiry
The Work and Pensions and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committees have written to all witnesses and key stakeholders, inviting responses to the inquiry's findings.
Servest extends FCO deal
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has added another year to its security contract with the services provider, pushing the end date out to 2020.
Cordant boss calls for social value in government contracts
Public sector contracts should no longer be given to the lowest bidder but awarded to "social business" companies that agree to share profits with staff and employ local workers.
Bentley offers MPs views on Carillion lessons
Addressing the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee yesterday, Mitie CEO Phil Bentley highlighted six lessons he suggested should be learned from the collapse of Carillion.
KBR acquires Carillion's share of Aspire Defence
KBR is now the sole backer of the former joint venture that has supported the Ministry of Defence on Project Allenby Connaught since 2006.
OCS in five-year MoJ win
The Ministry of Justice has awarded the new multi-service contract as part of the government department's integrator service delivery model.
TUC offers insights on lessons to be learned from Carillion
The TUC has published a report on the reforms needed to protect public services and improve quality in the wake of Carillion's collapse three months ago.
ENGIE secures extension double at DWP
ENGIE has extended its relationship with the Department for Work and Pensions with two new contracts for administrative support services.
Whitehall tightens up subcontractor protections
In a move at least partly inspired by the Carillion experience, the Cabinet Office is planning new measures designed to help secure the position of smaller businesses working on government contracts.
Whitehall launches property agency
The new Government Property Agency intends to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the government estate and generate benefits of between £1.4bn and £2.4bn over the next ten years.
DWP turns to WSP for security advice
As the Department for Work and Pensions makes the transition to a new estates and FM services model consulting firm WSP has been appointed as Security Technical Advisor.
Singapore rolls out smart bins
JTC, the Singapore government's development agency, has installed more than 40 solar-powered smart waste bins around its key commercial sites.
Calls for change, but will they stick?
Yesterday, a profit warning from Capita sent its share price plummeting by nearly 50%, cutting the company's stock market value by more than £1 billion.
MoJ launches FM company as Carillion impacts roll on
Acting on the government's "robust contingency plans", the Ministry of Justice has announced the creation of a new government-owned facilities management company.
Apprenticeship Levy numbers down again
New Department for Education figures show that the number of apprenticeship starts fell by 27% in the first quarter of this academic year compared to last year.
Financial watchdog takes a hard look at PFI
The National Audit Office has published a report on PFI and its successor PF2, an unexpectedly timely review of a key contracting concept that reshaped one big part of the public sector outsourcing landscape.
Carillion fallout continues
Following news of Carillion’s liquidation on Monday, question marks over the stability of another government supplier have emerged.
CCS FM framework update
The next Crown Commercial Service Facilities Management Framework is moving ahead, with the contract notice published and the latest briefing due at the end of this week.
G4S lands multi-site DWP contract
G4S Secure Solutions has won a contract with the Department for Work and Pensions to provide security services for an estate of over 700 properties.
Mitie seals Home Office deal
Mitie's Care & Custody business has been awarded a 10-year contract with the Home Office worth an estimated £525m.
Mitie lands highways safety deal
The group's security business has been awarded a two-year contract with Highways England to provide up to 50,000 road workers with a health & safety passport.
Gearing up for the next-gen CCS framework
Preparations are underway for introduction of the next FM services framework from the Crown Commercial Service. There's plenty of time to get involved, but providers should be planning their bidding strategies now.
Change at the top in Interserve
Bruce Melizan, Managing Director of Interserve Support Services, has stepped down from the board as part of the organisation's ‘Fit for Growth’ programme.
Public sector outsourcing spiked in Q3
The public sector outsourcing market experienced its strongest quarter in 2017 between July and September, as government bodies renewed investment in transforming back-office services.
FM framework to trial new streamlined contract
The next Crown Commercial Service facilities management framework looks set to be the testbed for a shorter, simpler, easier to use central government contract.
DWP: some good news for Interserve
Interserve has been awarded a five-year contract worth £227m to provide facilities management services for the Department for Work and Pensions.
Next CCS briefing next week
Manchester is the site of the next update from the Crown Commercial Service on plans to launch a new facilities management framework.
Interserve secures prison training deal
The services group has signed a £12m contract with the Ministry of Justice to run a series of employment workshops at HMP Berwyn, a large new prison in Wrexham.
Australia names three big winners
The Australian government has awarded three major contracts for the provision of integrated property and facilities management services, each encompassing multiple government clients.
BIFM calls for evidence-based migration policy
The British Institute of Facilities Management is calling on the government to ensure that any future migration policy is evidence-based and meets the skills needs of the British economy and its industries.
Interserve motors off with DfT contract
The Department for Transport has awarded a five-year, multi-customer TFM deal worth £90m to Interserve.
CCS unveils new estates framework
The Crown Commercial Service has launched a new Estates Professional Services framework which, it says, could save public sector bodies £35m over the next four years.
CCS plans second briefing on FM framework
The Crown Commercial Service is developing a new FM framework and will hold a feedback event on 13 July in Manchester.
Sodexo wins largest integrator contract in the public sector
Sodexo has secured a five-year contract with the Department for Work & Pensions to provide an integrated asset and estates management service.
Still time to learn about new FM framework
The new Crown Commercial Service Framework, due to be tendered in 2018 and worth a total of £12bn, will be the focus of a key event tomorrow, 6 June.
Premier reselected for Parliament
Premier Workplace Services has been awarded a new contract for the provision of removals, porterage and storage at the Houses of Parliament.
CCS plans new FM framework
With the current Crown Commercial Service framework for facilities management due to expire in July 2019 notice of the next one, with a total value of up £12bn, has been published.
Praise and criticism for government estate strategy
Government is getting better value for money from its estate, but the Government Property Unit is not making much progress towards its key objective.
NHS property: Naylor review published
The end of March saw the publication of a long-awaited investigation into estates strategy needs and options within the NHS. What happens now will be a measure of the commitment to sorting out some longstanding issues.
Government must focus on improving contract management
Central government is improving the way it manages outsourced public services but precarious reforms could still fail, according to new research by independent think tank the Institute for Government.
Interserve gets Justice
The support services business has been awarded a one-year extension to its TFM contract with the Ministry of Justice.
Xenon supporting property professionalisation initiative
As part of a drive to increase skills and capabilities within the 2000-member Government Property Profession group, the training services provider has been appointed to deliver accredited facilities management qualifications.
Crown Commercial Service: a work in progress
The government's central buying agency was certainly born out of a laudable ambition, but assessing its effectiveness so far is not easy according the National Audit Office.
Interserve sweeps up government 'cluster' deal
The support services and construction group has won a five-year total facilities management contract encompassing six central government departments.
One Public Estate passes 150 mark
The Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association have confirmed that 159 councils will join the next phase of the programme that targets improvements in the use of public sector property.
Interserve secures Environment Agency extension
The company has been awarded a two-year extension to its multi-service, multi-site deal with the Environment Agency.
Mitie secures place on CCS G-Cloud agreement
Mitie has been awarded a Crown Commercial Service contract under the G-Cloud framework, which covers a range of cloud-based services for public sector bodies.
DWP plans replacement of PRIME contract
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a tender process that will ultimately lead to the appointment of a new services provider, as its existing 20-year outsourcing deal comes to a close.
Servest lands FCO security services deal
The group will be working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the next three years at six sites in the UK.
Servest retains Parliament contract
Servest has won a new five-year contract at the Houses of Parliament, building on an existing three-year working relationship.
Interserve secures TFM deal at Home Office
The services provider has won the five-year contract under the new Crown Commercial Services facilities management framework.
Built environment industry backs low carbon commitment
In a letter printed in the Financial Times late last week, a long list of organisations representing the construction and property sectors came together to underline their views on the importance of sustainability.
KBR secures Home Office contract
The FM services provider has won the first contract to be awarded under the Crown Commercial Service FM Assurance Framework.
Shared service centres: missed opportunity?
Whitehall's programme to transfer back-office functions to two shared service centres is making savings, but it's not delivering value for money.
Government launches social enterprise buying challenge
Interserve and Wates are amongst the major companies backing a campaign to see more goods and services procured from the UK's social enterprise sector. The initiative marks the start of Responsible Business Week.
NOA aims to 'rid public sector of outsourcing failure'
The National Outsourcing Association is launching a campaign to drive improvements in public sector outsourcing at a time, it says, when an unprecedented number are choosing outsourcing to improve services and help deal with cuts to funding.
CIBSE slams government energy policy
A lack of consistent policymaking and disjointed attempts at delivery are behind past failures of energy efficiency policy, says the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
Grounds contractors challenge NLW impact
BALI-NCF, the National Contractors' Forum for grounds maintenance contractors, has written to government ministers and the Low Pay Commission highlighting the implications for local authorities of the introduction of the National Living Wage.
Whitehall to slash office estate
Central government has pledged to reduce the size of its office estate by 75% by 2023. And it is calling on local government bodies to publish their own rationalisation plans.
Changing how government does outsourcing
Flexible contracts, greater innovation and collaborative risk management are among commercial behaviours the public sector should adopt, the CBI says.
New guidance for public sector service providers
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has published a new guide for providers of services to the public sector, aiming to promote high ethical standards across the board.
SMEs most at risk ahead of BIM deadline
Small and medium-sized firms could find themselves unintentionally frozen out from competing for tens of billions of pounds of central government contracts in just a matter of months.
Think tank launches public sector outsourcing support tools
The Institute for Government says research has highlighted a lack of practical information and support for management teams in central and local government tasked with designing and implementing outsourcing programmes. It has set out to fill that gap.
SMEs and public sector contracts
The past couple of years have seen several policy announcements focused on a government campaign to open up competition for contracts to small and medium sized enterprises. But does Whitehall actually understand the needs and resources of SMEs?
Government's living wage will not lead to job losses in London
That's the conclusion from new think tank research, which finds that the London economy can currently support an uplift in wages without impacting employment.
KBR named for FM assurance role
The Crown Commercial Service has awarded its new Facilities Management Assurance agreement to Kellogg, Brown & Root, the international advisory services group.
Whitehall moves again in support of SMEs
Matt Hancock, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has announced a new target to get more small businesses working on central government contracts.
CCS to build apprenticeship commitment into contracts
Declaring that procurement will play a key part in Whitehall's support for apprenticeships, the Crown Commercial Service has said that it will write contractors' commitments into contract documents.
BSRIA calls for single point of contact on carbon
In a recently launched white paper on the issues involved in achieving carbon targets the building services group sets out the challenge of making progress in a confusing policy climate.
CCS unveils new facilities management agreement
The much-discussed agreement will provide access to standardised services for the public sector and is expected to save hundreds of millions of pounds.
Zero carbon buildings off the agenda
Plans to introduce zero carbon homes in 2016 and zero carbon non-domestic buildings in 2019 have been dropped by the government.
Carillion lands registry extension
The Land Registry has extended its TFM contract with Carillion for a further two years.
A living wage vs the Living Wage
In his summer Budget Chancellor George Osborne set out plans for a national living wage to replace the national minimum wage.
Open-book accounting a closed book to Whitehall
The National Audit Office is calling for government to negotiate greater access to, and to make better use of, information about how much outsourced public services are actually costing suppliers and therefore how much profit they are making.
Action needed now on climate change
The Committee on Climate Change is calling for early action in the new Parliament in order to keep the UK's emissions reductions on track and to adapt to climate changes.
The incredible shrinking government estate
The Cabinet Office has published its latest State of the Estate report, highlighting the fact that the government has exited over 2000 buildings since 2010.
BSA hails VAT relief for shared services
The extension of VAT relief for shared services to non-departmental public bodies has been welcomed by BSA Chief Executive Mark Fox, who declared it a 'big win'.
Procurement: Whitehall targets SMEs, again
Last week saw the launch of changes in public sector procurement systems aimed at making it easier for SMEs to win contracts for the supply of goods and services, worth a total of about £187bn annually.
Bellrock secures place on G-Cloud 6 framework
Property and facilities management services provider Bellrock has been awarded a place in two categories on the 2015 G-Cloud 6 framework, for software as a service and specialist cloud services.
Carillion signs prisons deal
Carillion has signed contracts with the Ministry of Justice to provide a range of hard and soft facilities management support to the National Offender Management Service for prisons in two regions.
Checking up on paying on time
There is little evidence the government's commitment to pay 80% of undisputed invoices within five working days is having the intended effect of helping the UK's 5m small and medium-sized enterprises, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
Interserve team confirmed for MoJ contract
The Purple Futures partnership, led by the services to construction group, will be providing probation and rehabilitation services in five areas of the UK from February, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.
MoJ names Carillion and Amey for prison FM
The Ministry of Justice has selected Carillion and Amey as preferred bidders for facilities management services, maintenance and the management of a range of works for public sector prisons.
In-sourcing vs outsourcing in the NHS
It seems there's life in this debate still; and there's nothing like the prospect of a general election to encourage politicians to take up positions on both sides of the argument around a range of FM services.
Sodexo and Interserve top list of MoJ preferred bidders
The list of preferred bidders for 21 probation service contracts reflects the government's commitment to transfer much of the service requirement to the private sector and charities.
FCO shares details of its FM strategy
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has published its response to a Freedom of Information query about its arrangements for outsourced facilities management services.
Government to slim London presence
There's a ring of familiarity about this: the government says it plans to reduce the number buildings it occupies in London and move vast numbers of civil servants to cheaper parts of the country.
Government contract management is better but....
A new report from the National Audit Office concludes that central government has made 'significant improvements' in managing contracts, but a lot remains to be done.
New FM contracting model PIN published
In the culmination of a comprehensively communicated programme to develop the new Facilities Management Contracting Model, the OJEU notice has now been published.
Features - Search found 17 features
Government FM deals fall again in Q4 2023
UK government awarded 183 contracts relating to facilities management in Q4 2023, worth a total of £184m.
Q3 sees over £1bn in FM contracts
The UK government awarded 274 contracts relating to facilities management in Q3 2023, worth a total of £1.1b.
Market insight: public sector contracts climb
Across the public sector 263 contracts relating to facilities management were awarded in Q2 2023, worth a total of £2.5b.
Market insight: public sector contract values down
The UK Government awarded 419 contracts relating to facilities management in Q1 2023, worth a total of £418mn.
Market insight: public sector procurement falls again
The UK government awarded 357 contracts relating to facilities management in Q4 2022, worth a total of £312mn.
Market insight: public sector procurement falls significantly
The UK government awarded 246 contracts relating to facilities management in Q3 2022, worth a total of £280 million.
Market insight: public procurement up in second quarter
The UK Government awarded 321 contracts relating to facilities management in Q2 2022, worth a total of £872m.
Market insight: FM procurement falls in Q1 2022
The UK government awarded 264 contracts relating to facilities management in Q1 2022, worth a total of £360 million.
Market insight: Public FM procurement hits £5bn in 2021
The UK government awarded 252 contracts relating to facilities management in the fourth quarter of 2021, worth a total of £445m.
Market insight: 292 public sector contracts in Q3
This is the third in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
Enhancing the value of facilities management
Baskar Sundaram looks at the changing face of public sector FM procurement, as evident in the upcoming Crown Commercial Service framework.
UK government facilities management contracts: Q2 2021
This is the second in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
UK government facilities management contracts: Q1 2021
This is the first in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
Next Gen CCS Framework: an FM opportunity
As the market prepares itself for the government's next-gen FM CCS framework, Baskar Sundaram helps providers ascertain if the framework is the way forward for them.
Bidding in the public sector
Looking for public sector contracts? Nicola Bramwell explores some of the common pitfalls for bidders and offers advice on ways to avoid them.
A brief history of Carillion
Recently, Carillion reported pre-tax losses of £1.153m for the first half of 2017. It is the latest chapter in the sometimes tumultuous history of one of the FM market's most active businesses.
Public Perceptions
At a time when government cuts make front-page headlines, it is easy to forget that facilities managers are on the frontline making the difficult decisions.
Comments - Search found 11 comments
Playing whack-a-mole with schools funding
Years of under-funding have exacerbated the problem of the condition of school buildings to such an extent that the recently announced £1bn spend on re-building schools in England is nowhere near enough.
Why we must support SMEs in the supply chain
SMEs continue to be undervalued and under-represented in FM. But they offer numerous benefits and it’s high time we offered them more support to enter and stay in the supply chain.
Time for change in government outsourcing practice
On exactly the same day that yet another key supplier of services to the government ran into financial problems, last week saw a speaker from the Cabinet Office tell the Workplace Futures conference that "we need significant cultural change on all sides".
Outsourcing in the public sector: a social commitment
The Public Service Act (Social Value) 2012 puts social value at the heart of commissioning, ensuring that authorities consider the wider economic and environmental benefit that they can achieve when buying goods and services. The Act became law in 2013.
Sizing up public sector contracts
The way that central government contracts are allocated, awarded and serviced has, for a long time, been a cause of deep concern for me.
Politicians are missing the point (again)
The pros and cons of outsourcing FM in the NHS is once again a hot topic with some politicians campaigning for services such as cleaning to go back in-house. Jeremy Waud joins the debate.
Umbrella solution
Back in 2010 the government announced that 25% of its business would be awarded to SMEs. What has that meant in practical terms for our industry?
Public sector panacea
In our post-recessionary climate the general market wisdom has often seemed to be that the public sector would provide significant growth prospects for the outsourcing community.
No sector can afford to think it's better than another
As the post-Olympics row about public sector outsourcing simmers on, Sodexo's Phil Hooper calls for balanced thinking.
Public sector challenge
In the 10 seconds or so that it takes you to read this sentence, it is a fact that the public sector will be spending in the region of £100,000 on outsourcing.
Hollow Rhetoric from the PM
It was heralded as the next big opportunity for smaller businesses, yet public sector outsourcing contracts still remain a closed door for most of us.
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