A message to our customers (COVID-19)

23 Mar 2020 03:53 PM

A letter to our customers about the steps we are taking to make sure we can continue to offer urgent commercial support to maintain public services.

Dear Customer

Support With Urgent Covid-19 Related Commercial Activity

As the UK faces the challenges that COVID-19 is bringing, Crown Commercial Service has taken steps to ensure we can continue to provide assistance to customers who require urgent commercial support to maintain public services, as we tackle the threat posed by the spread of the virus.

Crown Commercial Service recognises that, as a result of the continued disruption caused by the COVID-19 virus, you may have critical and/or unusual or one-off procurement requirements. If you urgently need commercial support or advice that you feel we can help with please do contact us. 

We can assist with commercial category expertise, reviewing existing contracts, looking at the feasibility of direct awards and running accelerated further competitions. 

To let us know what support you need, please email us at info@crowncommercial.gov.uk and title your message COVID-19 URGENT PROCUREMENT. We will review your needs and a colleague from Crown Commercial Service will be in touch with you as a matter of priority. 

A new Policy Procurement Notice has been posted and is attached to this communication for reference. This PPN sets out information and guidance on how you can use the public procurement regulations effectively in responding to challenges faced during these exceptional circumstances.

We appreciate also that where your needs are not COVID-19 related, they may still be business critical. Where you would normally reach out to Crown Commercial Service, please do continue to do so in the usual way. This may include talking to the relevant Customer Experience colleagues or Category Lead. If you are unsure about how to get in touch, you can also email us at info@crowncommercial.gov.uk. All emails received will be triaged to ensure that the most urgent needs are dealt with as quickly as possible.  

Please be assured that over the coming weeks and months we will work with you and help in whatever way we can as we face these challenges together. Please do not hesitate to contact us and let us know what you need.

Tracy Clark
Director Customer Experience
Crown Commercial Service