COI Builds Roster for Stakeholder and Consultation Work

In the UK, public sector body The Central Office of Information (COI) has launched a new roster and 'framework' to support the work of its Strategic Consultancy division, in response to a significant increase in demand for stakeholder research and public consultation projects.

The External Engagement and Facilitation Framework became operational today, and comprises 19 agencies. COI says it thoroughly evaluated 130 agencies and reviewed around 500 CVs and 1000 case studies during the review. The successful agencies were selected for proven expertise in one or more of a list of six specialisms: External Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation; Project Management; Workshop Design and Facilitation; Analytical and Reporting Services; Digital Infrastructure; and Evaluation.

The framework is designed to meet the requirements of the 2006 Public Contract Regulations - which insist that all capable suppliers are invited to compete for each piece of business - while freeing agencies from the usual lengthy procurement process for every contract.

Sean Larkins, COI Deputy Director of Strategic Consultancy, says most of the agencies selected have not worked with the COI before, adding: 'we are looking forward to developing good partnerships with them to help us solve some of the UK's most complex communications challenges in the most cost effective way.' Larkings says such projects often require a wide range of skills, and successful agencies will work with specialist teams drawn from across COI.

COI maintains around 30 frameworks of suppliers t serve the needs of itself and its government and public sector clients. Today's new framework will cover contracts worth approximately £5m per year, and follows the recently launched Marketing and Brand Strategy and Internal Communication, Engagement and Change agency frameworks.

Web site: www.coi.gov.uk .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.