Responsible, compliant procurement
With robust governance in place, all our frameworks are fully compliant with UK, Scottish, and EU procurement regulations.
But we don’t just stop at what’s legally required of us as a procurement authority. We also ensure our frameworks are designed to deliver value for money, efficiency, sustainability, and local community impact on every project.
We’re driven to ensure your project success criteria are assured.
Our responsibilities to you as a procurement authority
Across our procurement frameworks for the built environment, we strive to:
- Enable efficiency, savings, fast commissioning, and value for money
- Ensure fair, open, transparent procurement processes
- Encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to apply for contracts
- Build and cultivate strong relationships with public sector organisations, and encourage public-private sector collaboration
- Add value to your in-house procurement functions, your internal stakeholders, your communities, and support your local economy
- Ensure that our delivery partners and their supply chains work in a socially responsible manner
Find out more about our approach to compliance
All our frameworks are actively managed, to maximise performance.
Our responsibilities to you
Our adherence to public procurement rules and regulations is central to our approach as a public sector procurement authority.
While we are happy to offer you guidance and assistance, you should not solely rely on this, and you will remain responsible for undertaking your own due diligence on projects by seeking your own independent legal and professional advice.
Useful procurement links include:
Our legal guidance and support services that are available to you include:
Ensuring that framework procurement processes, framework agreements, and NEC-based template delivery agreements are fully compliant with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.
Reviewing and updating frameworks to ensure continued compliance with statutory and regulatory changes. Recent updates include data protection and privacy legislation, as well as anti-modern slavery and human trafficking laws.
Guidance in relation to any changes proposed to the call-off contract, in term of whether this would constitute a substantial modification (a material change) for the purposes of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and risk rendering the call-off non-compliant.
Providing views and guidance in relation to compliant contract structures, subcontracting, and assignment within the scope of the SCAPE framework agreement(s).
Offering guidance on the consistency and compatibility of certain standard procurement documentation and templates with SCAPE framework provisions and template call-off contracts, suggesting any necessary amendments to achieve compliance with our frameworks.
Providing guidance and views on risk allocation in the context of framework compliance.
Offering guidance and assisting you in establishing your status as a body governed by public law, or otherwise, for the purposes of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, and use of the SCAPE frameworks.
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Sign an Access Agreement
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FAQs
Q: Can I legally use your frameworks?
A: Yes. In compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations, public bodies which can access the suite of SCAPE frameworks, are clearly identifiable within our Contract Notices and on our Live Procurement page.
All public bodies across the United Kingdom are either explicitly named, or clearly referenced. This includes the insertion of a web link that lists public bodies by sector, or by using a reference to a category of Contracting Authorities within a specific geographical area.
This means that public bodies across the United Kingdom can be clearly identified, legally permitting them to use any SCAPE framework.
It is important however, to clarify that the resulting contracts are not speculative framework agreements. There is no legal requirement to consult or obtain consent when referencing Contracting Authorities in a Contract Notice.
Q: How do I use the frameworks?
A: The means to use a framework, also known as the call-off process, is clearly defined within framework agreements and accompanying user guides.
These are made available to all clients once an Access Agreement has been completed, allowing you to use any of our frameworks.
Q: Are you legally permitted to operate frameworks?
A: Yes. SCAPE is wholly-owned by six local authorities and was formed under the Local Government Act 2003. It is a Contracting Authority and Central Purchasing Body in its own right.
With procurement expertise, which has generated a range of compliant frameworks since 2006, SCAPE has never been the subject of a legal challenge.
Any project audits which have been conducted by external funding agencies or individual clients’ internal auditors, have all been satisfactorily concluded and all SCAPE frameworks have been accepted as a procurement route which is fully legally compliant.
Q: How do you ensure that your frameworks perform to a high standard?
A: All SCAPE frameworks are fully performance managed by a team of dedicated and knowledgeable framework managers to ensure the highest delivery standards and to maximise socioeconomic impact in the local community.
Their role is to ensure that your delivery team of highly reputable contractors and consultants, supported by an extensive local supply chain, consistently deliver the highest levels of project performance across a range of key performance indicators.
This standard of delivery has consistently surpassed national averages, as indicated in the Glenigan UK Industry Performance Reports.
Q: Can the frameworks be used for projects funded by European grants?
A: Yes. SCAPE procurement processes take account of the requirements of the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) comprising the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund in England (ESF) and the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Framework delivery partners are required to comply with the funding requirements of the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) and associated regulations such as procurement, publicity, eligibility criteria.