pick up a partner

摘要

Within the public sector, the use of consultants to provide specialist input workload has been well established for many years. Recently, however, there has been the realisation, at both local and national level, that letting individual commissions on the basis of lowest cost does not, in the long term, guarantee the best technical advice, support or indeed best value. Over the last few years there have been many changes in the relationship between public and private sector bodies. It is not uncommon now for local authorities to outsource large parts of their services to private sector companies. Many local authorities and private sector consultants value the opportunity to forge longer term links. In order to accomplish this longer term relationship, the framework or 'call-off' contract was developed. This ensured that competition was retained - as the framework was a tender-based contract - but also ensured continuity of staff and work because the contract, once awarded, would be for a number of years, normally three or five, with provision for extension.