Latest blogs on procurement law

Further to the guidance published earlier this month we now have a fact sheet (to be found in the Primary Care Commissioning section of the Resources for CCGs page of the Board Authority's website) to help CCGs and PCTs understand the new arrangements for commissioning local enhanced services (LESs) from April 2013.

I am sure many of you will have read the transition guidance issued by the National Information Governance Board (NIGB) last November which was designed to help NHS organisations maintain good information governance during the period of transition and change.

The first round of appointments to commissioning support services (CSSs) managing director posts has been made by the NHSCB.  Nine appointments have been made while discussions are ongoing with others.

NHS organisations in transition and CCGs coming on line really should be 'bang up to date' with the application of PIAs - make sure that you have completed them as appropriate. If you have not yet read the ICO's handbook on PIA's you can get it here...

We previously reported on a preliminary view from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) that changes to student funding arrangements might take many universities outside the EU public procurement regime.

The NHSCB has shared the final guidance for the checkpoint 3 stage of the CSS business review and assurance process outlining key requirements including a financial model template.

It seems that large parts of practice funding look set to be opened up to competition under new guidance published this month that says only enhanced services of 'limited value' or where GPs are the 'only capable providers' should be commissioned directly from practices.