Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Government's digital commercial playbook requires significant enhancement and broader consultation for effectiveness.
Recommendation
The GCF accepted that the playbook needed to be enhanced and improved, and said that in doing so it would involve GDS. It explained that its aim was to ensure that the playbook was “really fit for purpose”, in terms of where government wanted to move forward in the digital landscape.36 GDS agreed that there were some areas that it would like to emphasise more, including: ensuring that there would be clear guidance on joint commercial and digital leadership for procurements; and describing how things should work across the lifetime of the relationship, not just up to the point of contracting. It also told us that it was considering including guidance about what departments should do when things go wrong, recognising that “no matter how well contracting is done, there are always problems”.37 It also said of the playbook “we want to hear from the people we are working with as well. It has to be something that works with both sides of the market. We will also consult widely with Departments and seek general commercial expertise from industry, as in industry buyers as well as industry vendors.” 38 Plans for digital commercial training
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to updating and launching the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Playbook with GDS by December 2025. The revised playbook will incorporate best practices, an outcome-based approach, and guidance on risk management, continuous improvement, and cyber security.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.5 The government agrees with the committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2025 3.6 The government is taking forward the actions outlined below on which we will update the Committee on progress in December 2025: 3.7 The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Playbook provides a comprehensive framework for managing digital and technology projects within the public sector. The Market Sourcing and Suppliers Team is responsible for the playbook and is working with GDS to launch a publication in December 2025, bringing it up to date with current practices and for adoption across all relevant procurement activities. 3.8 Key points from the Playbook include: • Best Practices: The Playbook consolidates best practice guidelines and policies that help procurement professionals set up projects for success from the outset, minimising the risk of costly mistakes. • Outcome-Based Approach: It emphasises an outcome-based procurement strategy, focusing on delivering value rather than merely reducing costs. This aligns procurement activities with user needs and government priorities. • Market Engagement: The Playbook encourages early engagement with the market, facilitating innovation and collaboration, particularly with SMEs, to harness diverse solutions that meet public sector requirements. • Risk Management: It promotes a balanced approach to risk, ensuring that risks are allocated to those best able to manage them, thereby enhancing project resilience and sustainability. • Continuous Improvement: The DDaT framework supports iterative testing and learning, allowing procurement professionals to adapt strategies and improve service delivery over time. • Compliance and Governance: The Playbook sets out clear governance structures and compliance requirements for central government departments and arm's-length bodies, ensuring transparency and accountability in procurement activities. • Cyber Security and Legacy IT: It includes specific guidelines on cyber security and addressing legacy IT issues, which are critical for safeguarding public data and enhancing operational resilience.