Departments have opportunities throughout the lifecycle of a contract to improve the effectiveness of competition. Making the most of the opportunities available through competition starts from departments designing realistic requirements for goods or services and using these to inform their source. While Cabinet Office guidance encourages the need for departments to engage the market sufficiently, departments often take an overly cautious approach to engagement and are not always clear on wh...

Departments have opportunities throughout the lifecycle of a contract to improve the effectiveness of competition. Making the most of the opportunities available through competition starts from departments designing realistic requirements for goods or services and using these to inform their source. While Cabinet Office guidance encourages the need for departments to engage the market sufficiently, departments often take an overly cautious approach to engagement and are not always clear on what they can do.26 Departments are also unclear how to engage with the market before they let a contract, and do not consistently follow central guidance. Type: conclusion | Number: 13 | Response status: accepted Government response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 2.2 The Sourcing Playbook, published in 2019 and revised annually, sets out best practice on service delivery, insourcing, outsourcing, mixed economy sourcing and contracting. Thi