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We are making changes to the ESPD solution in eTenderWales and Sell2Wales to make it easier to comply with ESPD regulations, and to help standardise the approach across the Welsh public sector.

Phase 1

We are making changes to the ESPD solution in eTenderWales and Sell2Wales to make it easier to comply with ESPD regulations, and to help standardise the approach across the Welsh public sector. This follows user testing of the various ESPD solutions earlier this year, guidance from the Welsh Government policy team and discussions with the Scottish Government about their implementation.

Development work is also in progress to determine how we will manage the transfer of ESPD responses from Sell2Wales into eTenderWales. It will also be possible to download standard Excel files for use within other tender systems in use across the Welsh public sector.

The ESPD solution will be implemented into the test environment in early January 2020, and stakeholders will be invited to test the solution at workshops.

Customers will be provided with test scripts to guide them through each stage of the ESPD and there will be a dedicated resource from Proactis, the Sell2Wales provider, on hand to provide additional system guidance and support.

Once these workshops have been delivered we will capture customer feedback, undertake further evaluation and make any necessary changes to the solution. This will include the removal of duplicate questions from the existing supplier qualification information database (SQuID) question set, in readiness for implementation into the live environment scheduled for the end of March 2020.

Phase 2

Once the ESPD has been implemented in Sell2Wales, phase 2 of the project will be looking to develop further enhancements to the ESPD solution. Scotland has already implemented a supplier information database (SID); a secure portal where suppliers can upload evidence documents, such as insurance documents, to support their responses to the ESPD. The portal provides controlled access to documents during procurement exercises, and we may consider implementation of a similar solution in Wales. This, and other developments, will be agreed following consultation with stakeholders at the eProcurement User Group meetings, which are open to any users who wish to attend.

If you would like any further information, wish to register to be part of the testing workshops or the eProcurement User Group, please email ICTProcurement@gov.wales