Launch of 'A Practical Guide to Public Procurement' and Workshop for Attendees

Under the 2015 Public Contracts Regulations contracting authorities have greater scope to negotiate contracts. This three-hour CPD workshop will look at how this new power can be used effectively, including:

• When it is legal to negotiate
• When you should negotiate
• Impact of the new rules on publication of procurement documents (Reg. 53), modifications to contracts (Reg. 72), and case law on equal treatment and transparency
• Avoiding traps and achieving value - lessons from the negotiating table

The session will begin with the launch of the new book 'A Practical Guide to Public Procurement' (Oxford University Press, March 2015) which gives a comprehensive overview of the new procurement directives and how they are likely to influence practices in coming years. Author Abby Semple will address the question 'When is it legal to negotiate?' based upon the directives and 2015 PCR. Consultant editor Mark Cook  will speak on the theme of 'When should you negotiate?' drawing on his experience with local and central government procurement.

Following on from this participants will be invited to consider several detailed scenarios in which the new competitive procedure with negotiation might be used and how these could best be handled in practice. Discussion groups will be chaired by those with experience and expertise on different aspects of negotiations - both successful and unsuccessful.

After lunch the session will be wrapped up with expert summaries of the outcomes from the discussion groups and take away lessons.

Lunch will be provided. Display copies of the book will be available on the day and attendees can avail of discounted pricing.

Agenda

11:00 - Welcome

11:05 - 11:20 -  "When is it legal to negotiate under the new procurement rules?" Abby Semple

11:20-11:35 -  "What to include in procurement documents if you wish to negotiate?" Gayle Monk

11:35 -11:50 -  "When should you negotiate under the new procurement rules?" Mark Cook

11:50 - 12:45 -  Roundtable discussions on use of competitive procedure with negotiation for different contracting scenarios

12:45 -13:30 -  Lunch

13:30 - 14:00 -  Summary of roundtable discussions and wrap up