Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has announced a partnership with the British Parking Association (BPA) to strengthen the procurement and delivery of parking services across the UK public sector. CCS will provide commercial and procurement expertise, while the BPA will contribute sector knowledge and its network of members. The partnership is designed to help public bodies run parking facilities more efficiently, improve services for citizens, and secure better value for taxpayers. It will give organisations such as local authorities, NHS trusts, and central government departments access to a wider range of parking solutions, with simpler and more flexible procurement through the RM6347 Transport Technology agreement.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published its monthly update outlining commercial agreements that expired, were extended or awarded in November 2025, as well as those due to expire within the next three months. Customers can also view all live agreements in CCS’s interactive digital brochure.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published an article on consortium bidding for public sector contracts, highlighting the potential benefits for suppliers, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). As noted by Lucy Mccormack and Kate Wood from the CCS SME working group, consortium bidding may enable SMEs to pool resources, share costs, innovate, and meet tender requirements collectively. A local consortium may also have an advantage in respect of social value, demonstrating local job creation, community engagement, and environmental benefit. The article outlines the key bidding arrangements, with bidders submitting tenders either through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) or designated lead member. The article also outlines the relevant consortium formation considerations, bidding arrangements and compliance requirements including the relevant Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs).

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published an article on dynamic markets under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023). Dynamic markets have replaced Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPSs), which were limited to providing commonly purchased products under the previous regulations. Dynamic markets under PA 2023 can be used to create open supplier lists for a wider range of goods, services and works, subject to certain conditions, with contracts awarded via the competitive flexible procedure. Dynamic markets remain open to new suppliers joining or leaving throughout the market’s lifetime and there is no limit on the number of suppliers that can join, provided they meet the relevant legal, financial and technical criteria. Procurements carried out under a dynamic market must meet the applicable contract value threshold. The article summarises what a dynamic market is, how it benefits buyers and how it differs from other forms of agreement, such as frameworks.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published its SME Action Plan 2025. As of June 2025, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) account for approximately 75% of suppliers on CCS commercial agreements. The action plan outlines strategies to help government departments level the playing field for SMEs in public procurement over the next 12-18 months. It also updates on actions detailed in the previous plan. Action points include enhancing transparency and awareness of procurement opportunities, facilitating engagement through events, embedding SME-friendly practices across procurement processes and building better SME data to track participation and ensure SMEs are considered throughout the procurement lifecycle. The action plan also includes the provision of tailored guidance and support on bidding, contract terms, and requirements, including publication of ‘Supplier Specifics’ articles.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published buyer's guidance on supporting the procurement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) via CCS agreements. The guidance includes information on familiarisation with best practice, aligning procurement and ethics, specifying requirements and procurement in an emerging market.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has issued guidance to assist suppliers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in preparing for financial assessments during public sector procurement processes. In the article, Lucy Mccormack, Crown Commercial Service’s Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Champion, explains financial assessment criteria, enabling suppliers to provide additional information to support their financial stability and enhance their prospects of securing public contracts.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published guidance for public sector buyers on how to prepare for the new regulations being created under the Procurement Act 2023. The CCS encourages public sector buyers to take steps to prepare as early as possible and to focus on five key workstreams, including commercial activity, standard operating procedures and policies, guidance and information, systems, and people. The CCS also encourages buyers to use the Cabinet Office’s training product, Transforming Public Procurement Knowledge Drops, to prepare for the transition as it provides a high-level overview of the changes the new regulations will bring.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published guidance on sustainable procurement, highlighting five common 'tripwires' that public sector organisations should avoid. These include treating sustainability as a project rather than a programme, failing to engage with the marketplace, focusing solely on initial costs, neglecting future needs and emphasising products over outcomes. The guidance stresses the importance of adopting a strategic approach to sustainable procurement, particularly in relation to Carbon Net Zero (CNZ) goals and social value. The CCS emphasises that sustainability should be viewed as the means to achieve procurement objectives, rather than an end in itself and encourages organisations to consider the broader impact of their commercial activities on environmental sustainability.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published detail on what a ‘call-off’ is in public procurement. CCS has detailed that this is a way of saying a contract between a buyer and a framework supplier that has been placed through a framework. CCS has further explained that a call-off process includes a set of instructions to be followed by a buyer when buying through a framework and has provided steps to follow before undertaking a call-off process. Benefits of using call-off contracts mentioned by CCS include pre-agreed terms ad conditions, cost savings, stability and improved collaboration.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published information on understanding current UK public sector procurement regulations and how to remain compliant as a contracting authority. In England and Wales, the regulatory framework governing public sector procurement is currently outlined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), SI 2015/102. These will be replaced by the Procurement Act 2023, when it comes into force. CCS has highlighted why, currently, compliance PCR 2015 is essential, responsibilities for contracting authorities as well as compliance challenges.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has supplemented its 'Procurement Essentials' series with an article titled 'Legacy IT or the cloud?: digital transformation in the public sector'. The piece provides information on how to overcome legacy IT challenges and migrate to cloud computing systems. Some of the cloud benefits listed include improved sustainability, hybrid working and value for money; as well as increased security and resilience. It also provides information on how CCS can assist the public sector to start or progress their migration from legacy IT to cloud computing systems. It further provides local authorities with a 5-step guide to digital transformation.