Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
Data migration to the single supplier database is manageable but critical for KPI tracking.
Recommendation
Given the move to a single supplier database we were interested to hear the challenges government foresaw with the transfer of data to the new system. The GCF commented that there are 10,000 contracts and 20 fields per contract on the current databases, “so it is not an insurmountable problem”; and it is especially important to maintain that data to continue to track trends of key performance indicators.24 The GCF added that the proposed method of migrating information should help government get it right the first time.25 Understanding the appetite and capabilities of suppliers through market monitoring
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that new legal requirements under the Procurement Act will mandate data upload to a central digital platform by Spring 2025, with secondary legislation laid in Spring 2024 and supporting guidance to follow.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 1.2 Much of the requested data will now be required as standard as part of the Procurement Act. Contracting authorities will have clear legal requirements to upload information on procurements to the central digital platform within certain timescales, this includes publishing contract award notices for above threshold contracts (those generally above £213,000), contract details for contracts over £5 million, Key Performance Indicators for contracts over £5 million. This list is not exhaustive and will be achieved via the submission of notices within the system - simply put, if a contract authority does not upload a particular notice, it will be in breach of statutory requirements in a way that is not the case now. The requirements for notices will be set out via secondary legislation, expected to be laid in Spring 2024. The Cabinet Office will publish a range of guidance notes and provide learning and development materials setting out these requirements.