JUSTICE’s Outsourcing and Administrative Justice Working Party is looking to make a series of practical, evidence-based recommendations for how outsourcing across all sectors in the United Kingdom can be done in a way that better upholds the public law principles at the heart of administrative justice and better protects individuals. More information about the Working Party can be found here: https://justice.org.uk/our-work/administrative-justice-system/outsourcing-and-administrative-justice/
If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Philip Armitage (Public and Administrative Lawyer, JUSTICE) by email - parmitage@justice.org.uk.
Please provide your response by Friday 22 December 2023.

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* 1. Please provide your full name and occupation or other experience relevant to this Working Party.

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* 2. What is your experience and general view of public procurement in the United Kingdom?

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* 3. What information should public authorities routinely obtain before they start the invitation to tender or re-tender a particular service? Please give examples from your particular sector if you are able to.

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* 4. In your experience, does local or national government adequately consider those likely to be affected by the outsourced service during the tender process?

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* 5. Please give a reason for your answer, and examples from your particular sector if you are able to.

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* 6. How could the public procurement process be reformed to better consider the views and interests of those who are likely to be affected by an outsourced service?

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* 7. How would you reform the tender processes of local and/ or national government to better evaluate the strength of bids but not be overly burdensome for small organisations/ charities?

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* 8. How should relevant past performance of a provider be considered by public authorities during a tender or re-tender process? Please give examples from your particular sector if you are able to.

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* 9. In your experience, are individuals affected by an outsourced service, particularly those with vulnerabilities, generally given adequate safeguards within the contract?

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* 10. Please give reasons for your answer.

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* 11. How would you improve safeguards in outsourcing contracts to protect core human rights and public law principles (e.g. procedural fairness) and why? Please consider issues such as, but not limited to, Key Performance Indicators, penalties, transparency, audits and accountability.

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* 12. What reforms, if any, would you recommend to Cabinet Office policies and guidance such as the Sourcing Playbook and Model Services Contract and why?

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* 13. Please provide any further thoughts or information relevant to the tender/ contracting stage of public procurement.

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* 14. Are you happy for the information provided in this survey to be directly quoted in JUSTICE’s final written report (which will be publicised and made publicly available, including on our website)?

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