Introducing NEPRO x Innovation
What is NEPRO x Innovation?
NEPRO x Innovation is a brand-new solution currently being procured by our team here at NEPO. NEPRO x Innovation will be an end-to-end solution to procure goods, services, works and technology and crucially help the public sector unlock innovation. We recognise that the UK public sector has some huge aspirations including unlocking Artificial Intelligence (AI) across public services, reaching net zero, tackling housing crises, shortening NHS wait times and increasing school-readiness of children. Public procurement is a fundamental lever to achieve these ambitions, and through NEPRO x Innovation, we will offer a solution that harnesses innovation-friendly procurement processes, supports start-ups and SMEs and achieves outcomes for the public sector.
What will the procurement for NEPRO x Innovation look like?
We’re procuring NEPRO x Innovation under the Procurement Act (PA23) which will go live on 24 February this year. The Procurement Act is a core driver for NEPRO x Innovation, as one of the objectives of the reforms is to empower public bodies to procure more innovative solutions to meet their needs. Having a procurement solution which allows contracting authorities to seamlessly tap into innovation will be hugely beneficial to our North East and national members.
We’ve just published a notice inviting potential suppliers to participate in market engagement, which we’ll be holding in February. Engaging with the market is a fundamental element of any NEPO procurement and will inform our design of the final solution. Full details on market engagement can be found in the notice, linked below.
What does this mean for other NEPRO solutions?
NEPRO x Innovation marks an exciting new era for NEPRO, as we extend beyond offering just one solution. We are excited for a future which will see a suite of strategic procurement solutions, housed under the NEPRO brand. At the heart of NEPRO is our mission to provide flexible, outcomes-based solutions that deliver an end-to-end procurement solution for the public sector.
This won’t change anything for our current NEPRO3 solution. NEPRO3 was awarded to our delivery partner, Bloom, in 2019 following a competitive process under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15). NEPRO3 has proved incredibly successful and will continue as a solution which offers an excellent service to the public sector. Since NEPRO x Innovation is a different solution, it has no impact on the functioning of NEPRO3. NEPRO3 is available until August 2027 with call-offs active until August 2029.
Where can I go for more information?
You can find everything you need to know on our NEPRO x Innovation page. We’ll be updating this page as the solution progresses. From there you can also get in touch with our friendly NEPRO team, who will be happy to set up a call with you.
