Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing told us that their organisations...
Conclusion
The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing told us that their organisations did not have access to the high-priority lane, even though they were being contacted by, and therefore would have been able to put forward, credible leads based on the knowledge of their members. The British Medical Association also noted that suppliers which had contacted them, including suppliers trusted by doctors, tried the normal channels of reaching out to the Government but had “hit a brick wall”. Care England told us that it had similarly shared the details of potential suppliers but there had been no follow-through. The Department was unable to confirm whether the British Medical Association had access to the high-priority lane and committed to checking this.16 12 Qq 117–118, 134, 144, 272; C&AG’s Report The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, paras 10, 2.2, Figure 6 13 Qq 89, 149, 179, 191 14 Qq 179–188 15 Qq 179, 180, 182, 186; 191–192; C&AG’s Report Investigation into government procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic, paras 3.12–3.14, Figure 6 16 Qq 46–47; Qq 181–184 14 COVID-19: Government procurement and supply of Personal Protective Equipment Volumes of PPE procured
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
3: PAC conclusion: The high-priority lane was not designed well enough to be a wholly effecti ve way of sifting credible leads to supply PPE. 3: PAC recommendation: The Cabinet Office and the Department should by July 2021 publish the lessons it has learnt from the procurement of PPE during the pandemic for future emergencies and disseminate these lessons to the wider government commercial function. This should include guidance for determining what is considered a credible offer and how this is communicated to potential suppliers. 3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: July 2021 3.2 The government has consistently stated that it will review its response to procurement during the pandemic and learn lessons from its response to this unprecedented event. 3.3 The Cabinet Office’s updated policy on procurement in an emergency includes further information on managing the risks inherent in direct award without competition and guidance on additional processes or criteria used in selecting suppliers for direct award of contracts. 3.4 Further work is currently underway and will be used to inform the Cabinet Office and the department as they continue to work together to draw out the lessons learned from the procurement of PPE during the pandemic. The departments plan to complete the work by the end of July so that they are then in a position to disseminate findings to the wider Government Commercial Function.