The Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS), formerly known as the Mystery Shopper Service, sits within the Cabinet Office and allows government suppliers and potential government suppliers to raise concerns anonymously about potentially poor public sector procurement practice.
PPRS also accepts cases raised by suppliers concerning the late payment (i.e. not paid within 30 calendar days or any earlier payment date as stated in the contract terms) of valid and undisputed invoices on a public sector contract.
The Progress Report published today highlights the main trends that the service has seen from 6 April 2018 to 5 April 2019. It includes a comparison of procurement issues within the different sectors, and also addresses the outcome of feedback provided from user surveys and has a forward look for financial year 2019/20.
2018/9 Highlights:
- 263 cases received overall.
- The highest number of cases closed during the year: 204 cases up from 137 cases in 2017/18.
- £2.6m in late payments unblocked on behalf of suppliers. PPRS have had a 100% success rate in unblocking undisputed invoices.
- 98% of recorded outcomes measured as ‘positive’. This includes changes being made to live procurements, recommendations being accepted, areas identified to improve future procurement practice and where PPRS was able to offer advice to the supplier to help them understand what has happened and why.
Click here to read the Public Procurement Review Service Progress Report 2018/19.