We like the following web link which gives a nice overview and detail about the historical importance of the voluntary and community sector and commissioning: http://www.lvsc.org.uk/Templates/information.asp?NodeID=96801&i1PNID=900...

Also see: 'Think Smart....Think Voluntary Sector' (2004), Good Practice Guidance on Procurement of Services from the Voluntary & Community Sector by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). Click here to download the Think Smart Think Voluntary Sector Report

This publication is to help staff and Trustees of Voluntary and Community Organisations understand how the Government plans to achieve change in the procurement of services.

Definately take a look at the report by the Audit Commission called, 'Hearts and Minds: Commissioning from the Voluntary Sector (2007). This report looks at the extent and nature of the voluntary sector's delivery of public services; the locally perceived impact of government efforts to build capacity; the current state of commissioning; and procurement practice. Click here to go the Audit Commission's webpage and download this report:

http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/reports/NATIONAL-REPORT.asp?CategoryID=&ProdID=418C38AF-0D97-49dd-95D6-EE7E7BA43773 

Department for Works and Pensions (DWP)

The DWP promotes opportunity and independence for all, helps individuals achieve their potential through employment, and works to end poverty in all its forms. The DWP has adopted a new approach to sourcing, procuring and managing employability provision, which is set out in its Commissioning Strategy. Its aims are to increase the number of people entering and staying in work, reduce costs and achieve the best individual outcome for each customer. Click on the following link to find out more and download the DWP Commissioning Strategy: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplyingdwp/news/#commsstrategy

Joint Planning and Commissioning Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (Every Child Matters)

This Framework is for children's trusts to use in the planning and commissioning of children's services, young people's services, and maternity services. It can be downloaded from the Every Child Matters website, at the following web address: http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/planningandcommissioning/guidance

Ministry of Justice: National Offender Management Service (NOMS)

The National Commissioning and Partnerships Framework sets out the Government's strategic intention for commissioning and partnership working, the priorities for investment, emerging financial arrangements and the performance framework for 2008/09. Take a look:

http://www.noms.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications-events/publications/strategy/NCPF_0809?view=Standard&pubID=526375

If your organisation would like to become a supplier of services in the East Midlands region, stay up to date by checking out the NOMS regions website:

http://noms.justice.gov.uk/noms-regions/east-midlands/suppliers-em/ and by joining the NOMS National Provider Network to access online resources. Also keep an eye out for the forthcoming Regional Commissioning Plans.

The Our health, Our care, Our Say is the Government policy (White Paper) that sets out a vision to provide people with good quality social care and NHS services in the communities where they live. It can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Ourhealthourcareoursay/index.htm

The Commissioning Framework for Health and Well-being (Department of Health) is a Framework that builds on the Government White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say. It is for everyone who can contribute to promoting physical and mental health and well-being. It essentially means involving the local community to provide services that meet their needs beyond just treating them when they are ill, but also keeping them healthy and independent. It can be found at the following web address: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_072604

World Class Commissioning is a Department of Health (DH) programme that seeks to change the way that health and care services are commissioned. There are four key elements to the programme; a vision for world class commissioning, a set of world class commissioning competencies, an assurance system and a support and development framework. The assurance system includes a Commissioning Assurance Handbook, that was published on 4th June 2008. This Handbook will hold Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to account and reward performance as they move towards World Class Commissioning. Have a look at the following link for more details about World Class Commissioning and the assurance system: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Commissioning/Worldclasscommissioning/index.htm

Practice Based Commissioning is about engaging practices and other primary care professionals in the commissioning of services. More about this can be found at the following web address: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Commissioning/Practice-basedcommissioning/index.htm

The Leicester Partnership is a non-statutory body that brings together the different parts of the public, private, voluntary and community sectors working at a local level. The lead player in the Leicester Partnership is the local authority and other players include Voluntary Action Leicester, the police and the primary care trust. The Leicester Partnership ensures that the different organisations work together to deliver services more effectively.

The Leicester Partnership has created a long-term vision for Leicester which is set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS), One Leicester. The Local Area Agreement (LAA) is the mechanism for making the vision a reality. For more information about Leicester’s Local Area Agreement (LAA) check out the following web link: http://www.leicesterpartnership.org.uk/welcome/leicesters-local-area-agreement You can find out more about providing services and projects to deliver Leicester's new Local Area Agreement by going to: http://www.leicesterpartnership.org.uk/welcome/commissioning

The Strategic Commissioning Framework for Leicester’s Local Area Agreement has been developed to:

1. Respond to the Government strategy for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) to be involved in influencing, designing and delivering public services (see below: History and Policy behind Commissioning)
2. Respond to the new ways that money is coming into Leicester
3. Change the way that services are delivered. The way that services are delivered needs to change if the targets set out in the Local Area Agreement are to be met

The Framework is based on ten steps, covering the following: 1. Needs assessment & planning, 2. Procuring & contracting, and 3. Monitoring & evaluation. See below to download the Strategic Commissioning Framework for Leicester’s Local Area Agreement.

For an introduction to Local Area Agreements, check out the following good web source: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6970744

BizVision provides essential guidance and advice to help you gain new or greater business from the spending by public sector bodies. Have a look at http://www.publicprocurement.co.uk

The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEC) publishes almost all public procurement contracts over a specified EU threshold in the Supplement to the Official Journal (OJS), which has an online version called Electronic Tenders Daily (TED). Go to: http://www.ted.eur-op.eu.int

If you go to http://www.supply2.gov.uk you can register and receive notification of smaller value procurement contract opportunities (typically below a value of £100,000).

The Department of Health (DH) Procurement and Proposals website provides information about purchasing and tenders within the Department of Health and the NHS, and also provides guidance on submitting tenders. http://www.dh.gov.uk/ProcurementAndProposals/fs/en

The Government Opportunities website has information on procurement opportunities across government and can be found at http://www.govopps.co.uk

We quite like the Nottinghamshire Council for Voluntary Service Change Management Service website, which has some useful resources to download and links to other relevant external websites relating to commissioning and procurement. Check it out as follows: http://www.nottinghamcvs-changeteam.co.uk/

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has a good public service delivery page that has some useful resources, tools and case studies. It also runs a free network that offers peer support and information sharing. See: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/index.asp?id=2116

A good selection of procurement publications can also be found on NAVCA's website (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action): http://www.navca.org.uk/stratwork/procurement/propubs/

The Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (Acevo) has developed some pretty good briefings on tendering and bidding, achieving impact, effective negotiation and VAT. You can download them from: http://www.acevo.org.uk/index.cfm/display_page/Sucessful_Procurement2

A good starting point is NCVO's website which provides lots of good advice and resources to download.

Check it out here: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/collaborativeworking.asp

Also have a look at the following link for guidance from the Charity Commission: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc34.asp