You might be aware through my previous updates that we are continuing to progress the LCRIG Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to help our members access innovative and flexible products, services, and technologies to maintain their highways assets more cost-effectively, removing the challenge of gaining access to market innovations.
Public procurement is a powerful tool as LCRIG Member Councils participate in hundreds of frameworks stewarding over £2.5billion a year and overseeing over 50% of our road network. However, our frameworks by design are restrictive, narrowly focused and provide no access to spot buying or cutting edge advancements.
The LCRIG DPS working in partnership with Crown Commercial Service, will provide flexibility to leverage the market’s innovations. For example, it will be quick and easy to undertake a competition to purchase proven yet new surface treatments to improve asset life or new environmental services to take advantage of carbon reduction advances that are changing rapidly.
Although our assets are due for an evolution not seen in a hundred years as we deploy technology to enable smart streets from sensors to street furniture to tech at our kerbs, frameworks will never keep up with the pace of change that the LCRIG DPS will allow.
The DPS is not intended to replace our asset management frameworks that deliver the capital and planned maintenance schemes. However, it does speed up deployment of the products, services, and technologies that highways practitioners must deploy in the public’s best interest and supports our procurement officer colleagues to comply with best practice and all public procurement rules. I will continue to provide you with updates as the DPS progresses.
On a very sad note I’m sure that many of you are already aware that Denis Curran from Hanson passed away recently. He was exceptionally well liked in the industry and a real pleasure to be around, I know he will be sadly missed by me and many others.
A Just Giving page has been set up in memory of Denis.