The NCVO have a useful blog on new procurement guidance in response to Covid-19 and the implications this will have for the charity sector.
It breaks down the government’s guidance into four key points, which are:
1. Inform suppliers who they believe are at risk that they’ll be paid as normal (even if service delivery is disrupted or temporarily suspended) until at least the end of June.
2. Put in place payment measures to support supplier cash flow. Authorities can continue to pay at usual contractual rates.
3. If the contract involves payment by results (PBR) then payment should be on the basis of previous invoices.
4. Contracting authorities should re-deploy the capacity of those suppliers to other areas of need or provide relief against terms like KPI’s, before considering claims to suspend performance.
It also lists multiple issues which still need to be resolved.
Here’s a link to the blog: https://blogs.ncvo.org.uk/2020/03/26/new-procurement-guidance-in-response-to-covid-19-implications-for-charities/?_cldee=YW5kcmV3LnZhbmRvb3JuQGhhY3Qub3JnLnVr&recipientid=contact-e607b151bf45e411a009d89d67635d70-b047a68c992044e9a943cc78d9603284&utm_source=ClickDimensions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NCVO%3A%20Coronavirus&esid=41e915a1-3270-ea11-a811-000d3ab70a67
And here’s a link to the official government guidance on procurement: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0220-supplier-relief-due-to-covid-19