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In April, Government Commercial Agency (GCA) was formed by bringing together Crown Commercial Service and several Cabinet Office Central Commercial teams.

GCA creates a more connected and efficient commercial function for government and the wider public sector, combining the strengths of multiple teams to deliver better value for the nation and support the government’s Plan for Change.

Getting procurement right matters. When it works well, hospitals get the equipment they need faster, small businesses win contracts that sustain local jobs, and taxpayer money goes further.

GCA aims to provide the public sector with even greater value and efficiency, through:

• Easier access to simpler procurement solutions, with clearer ways to buy and streamlined processes.
• Improved collaboration and building long-term partnerships.
• Shaping markets through more opportunities for aggregate spending.
• Clearer communication and consistent standards across procurement, with one point of accountability.
• Specialist commercial advice when the public sector needs it.
• Stronger supplier relationships that benefit everyone. GCA’s commitment to serving the entire public sector, regardless of organisation size or location, remains at the heart of its work. This is reflected in its use of combined expertise and scale to achieve better outcomes for all public sector customers, suppliers, and ultimately citizens.

Commercial agreements

GCA has a portfolio of over 100 commercial agreements already available to public sector buyers, covering a wide range of common goods and services.

Each agreement is backed by commercial specialists who can provide support and advice to buyers to help them achieve even greater value in their procurement.

GCA offers public sector buyers who are seeking similar purchases the opportunity to combine their purchasing power into one deal and achieve even greater value.

GCA experts take care of the aggregated buying process, including drafting all documents and running the procurement.

This saves time for buyers, allowing them to focus on other business priorities, and helps achieve better social and economic value for the nation.

The assisted procurement service is a free resource that lets public and third sector organisations tap into GCA’s expertise by having its experienced team run their procurements, from creating a strategy to preparing contracts.

Public sector buyers can use the assisted procurement service for any common goods or services available through a GCA commercial agreement, freeing up valuable resources for other priorities.

GCA has a team of senior commercial experts dedicated to resolving the government’s most complex commercial challenges.

The team helps buyers dealing with large and complex procurements to continue to achieve the best value while supporting them throughout the full commercial lifecycle, from commercial strategy and market engagement to contract exit support.

On top of GCA’s commercial and category expertise in the buying process, it also offers specialist advice and best practice guidance to help the public sector maximise value and minimise risks to public services.

This includes services such as market health assessments, providing best practice for sourcing decisions and supplier management and advising on matters relating to the government’s strategic suppliers.

GCA will support public sector buyers by:

• Combining collective purchasing power and commercial expertise to negotiate better deals.
• Maintaining diverse and resilient supply chains.
• Providing expert guidance through complex procurements, from initial planning through to contract delivery.

GCA commercial agreements, including those established under Crown Commercial Service, continue to operate unchanged, and any contracts awarded through any of those agreements remain in place. GCA will continue to communicate clearly any changes to the way it works with buyers if they are made.

Suppliers are vital partners to GCA in providing public services. Through GCA, businesses of all sizes will have a clear gateway to the UK public sector.

GCA is working to create more opportunities for small businesses and voluntary organisations, and help shape supplier markets that are diverse, competitive and local.

GCA will provide significant benefits to suppliers of all sizes to access and work with government and the wider public sector:

• Greater market access: more opportunities for businesses of all sizes, allowing SMEs to access government contracts.
• Simpler, faster processes: clearer routes to market and more efficient decision-making.
• Focus on innovation and growth: actively seeking suppliers who can help provide national priorities, including economic growth and getting the most benefit from the Procurement Act 2023.

GCA connects the full breadth of the public and private sectors across the country to make a positive difference for the UK. We call this ‘value for the nation’.

Buyers and suppliers can find out more about this mission and how to work with GCA by visiting the GCA website.

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