Raising the Bar for procurement of professional services | Does the ‘Gold Standard’ really help?

Public funding pressures are intensifying and the drive for reform is reshaping services and government. This means the need for resilient trusted partnerships and efficient value-based procurement routes have never been greater. 

Gold Standard Verified frameworks are becoming recognised as the exemplar tool to help public authorities navigate their challenges. They are built to provide high quality; inherent compliance; value-driven outcomes, from easy-to-access procurement solutions.

Understanding how this is proven is key to making better choices that will achieve excellence and efficiency.

Delivering value, sustainability, and trust in public sector professional services

In 2021, Professor David Mosey’s landmark report, Constructing the Gold Standard, redefined expectations for public sector construction frameworks. The report set out to transform how frameworks are designed, procured, and managed, to drive outcomes that are ‘better, faster, greener and safer.’

When considering construction frameworks this includes the professional services required to deliver infrastructure and built environment projects and the management of wider asset and natural environment portfolios.

Aligning with the Gold Standard for smarter procurement

The Gold Standard’s 24 recommendations, aligned with the UK Government’s Construction Playbook, establish best practice across four key areas: strategy, procurement, contracts, and management. In 2023, Constructing Excellence launched a robust verification process to assess frameworks against these benchmarks. Whilst there are more than 2,000 currently active frameworks, to date there are only seven Gold Standard Verified Organisations assessed by Constructing Excellence to be providing highly ambitious and successful frameworks compliant with the Gold Standard recommendations.

Reflecting on my experience of bidding, winning and managing multiple frameworks and the delivery of contracts, it’s fair to say when assessing outcomes there are a range of approaches that achieve different results.

Two of the total seven Gold Standard Verified Organisations now recognised by Constructing Excellence are SCAPE and SCAPE Scotland. These organisations not only give clients assurance in measures of quality, value and compliance, but it is evident from its monitoring of performance through monthly KPI returns, quarterly achievement, annual audits for evidence-based assurance that they deliver real value to clients and communities.  

SCAPE’s Framework Management Team, in collaboration with their Framework Partners, drive continuous improvement through process review and audit, client listening and VfM benchmarking, creating a shared legacy of learning from experience.

Driving better outcomes through collaborative consultancy delivery

Through the Gold Standard Verified frameworks procured by SCAPE and SCAPE Scotland, Perfect Circle excels in providing resilience and deliverability of best-in-class professional services. Powered by an ISO 44001 certificated collaborative model Perfect Circle brings together global innovative thinkers, creative designers, and the broadest service offering from multi-tier consultants. 

The scope of the frameworks has been carefully created to allow a raft of service needs to be accessed from national Tier-1 partners and local suppliers. Perfect Circle’s commitment to an extensive pre-qualified supply chain ensures clients have rapid access to the right expertise. With nearing £1 billion in public sector professional services delivered for 400+ clients over the past eight years, Perfect Circle has commissioned 52% with supply chain partners and 86% with SMEs, far exceeding the governments targets of 33% aimed at boosting the economy. 

Through both the SCAPE Consultancy Services and SCAPE Utilities Frameworks, Perfect Circle offers over 260 management and professional services, including planning, environmental, technical and advisory disciplines. While enhanced supply chain capability continues to bring in subject matter experts as required to meet client needs. With 92% repeat business, Perfect Circle is a trusted partner, committed to developing long-term collaborative relationships, with ISO certificated transparent systems and dedicated support throughout the project or commission lifecycle.

Tracking performance and monitoring for impact

SCAPE’s Gold Standard Verified frameworks set high performance targets for on-budget and on-time, plus minimum supply chain engagement, knowing how local and SME spend supports thriving communities. The embedded Social Value and its measurement across all Framework Partners achieves greater outcomes than any individual contract would call for or deliver.

Perfect Circle maintains a 100% compliance rate in time and cost delivery and in paying supply chain within 30 days; an unrivalled industry-leading performance.

The performance management regimes of these Gold Standard frameworks is unwavering and true testament to what Constructing Excellence is seeking to achieve from the 24 recommendations to help clients ask questions and make informed procurement choices.