Longlist of locations for the UK’s first experimental nuclear fusion plant revealed
Fifteen sites throughout the UK are vying to become the future home of the UK's prototype fusion energy power plant.
New microbiology framework established to ensure speedy access to crucial medical supplies
A new Public Health England microbiology framework has established to ensure speedy and resilient access to medical supplies as part of the UK’s preparedness to respond to future pandemics.
Firms bidding for major government contracts must commit to Net Zero
Bidders for new government contracts worth £5 million or more will be required to pledge to meet Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Cabinet Office has announced.
The train takes the strain from China as sea container prices rise
Howden Joinery Group, the FTSE 250 listed kitchen trade supplier, has announced it is expecting its first delivery of goods from China by freight train due to the rising cost of using maritime shipping containers.
TfL pays £10m to settle Silvertown Tunnel procurement dispute
Transport for London (TfL) has reached an out-of-court financial settlement with the Silver Thames Connect (STC) group, following a legal complaint over the procurement process for the construction of the Silvertown Tunnel.
Arfon awarded ISO 9001 certification
Arfon Consulting® has successfully achieved ISO9001 accreditation for its quality management system for delivering commercial advisory and interim management services to the public and private sectors.
NGO logistics officer jailed for bribery of procurement officials
A former logistical officer at an Irish international development charity has been jailed for over three and-a-half years in the United States for bribery of NGO procurement officials in order to receive sensitive procurement information to facilitate bid-rigging in tenders.
Cardboard shortgages latest hit to global logistics
Price spikes for recycled paper and corn (used in the glue that holds the cardboard containers together) are the latest blow to logistics providers.
Central Scotland local authority launches a £6bn ‘roads and place’ strategic partnership tender
North Lanarkshire Council has launched a £5.7bn commercial place-shaping partnership contract opportunity of up to 25 years length to “re-invent North Lanarkshire as the place to live, learn, work, invest and visit”
Network Rail overhauls procurement procedures after legal challenge
Network Rail has overhauled its internal procurement process following a legal challenge by one of its long term infrastructure suppliers in relation to a £500M switches and crossings contract.
Hochtief, JT Mackley and Jones Bros JV and Balfour Beatty shortlisted for £140M Havant reservoir
Balfour Beatty, Hochtief and a JT Mackley/Jones Bros JV have been shortlisted for the main works of Portsmouth Water’s £140m Havant reservoir.
Proposal for a £2bn experimental nuclear power plant lodged by Council
Vale of Glamorgan Council has submitted a formal proposal that the site of the former Aberthaw coal fired power station be used as the location for an experimental nuclear fission plant.
Coffee manufacturer suspends ethical label due to Suez disruption
The owner of Carte Noire, Kenco and L’Or forced to, temporally, suspend use of its Rainforest Alliance certification as certified coffee supplies delayed by the continuing bow wave of disruption caused by the Suez Canal blockage earlier this month.
The Dutch European Social Fund ‘bubble’ of 2002
A 2002 investigation found “serious and systematic” irregularities in a Dutch job-creation projects co-financed by the European Social Fund, leading to the decommitment and repayment of €157m to the Commission by the Dutch Public Employment Service.
The one true… subsidy
New Zealand’s decision to award tax incentives of up to 25% to Amazon Studios to film a new series of The Lord of the Rings in the country analysed under the prism of the EU’s own subsidy rules on financial support to the film production sector.
One-fifth of UK pandemic PPE contracts red flagged for ‘corruption’ risks
A review of nearly 1,000 PPE contracts by Transparency International has found that nearly one-fifth, worth some £3.7bn, which “merit further investigation” due to their award to politically connected companies or persons, many without a competitive tendering process.
Isle of Anglesey Council seeks Net Zero implementation partner
Isle of Anglesey Council goes out to market to seek a Net Zero by 2030 implementation partner for the Island's public sector.
