Research and reports on commissioning & procurement
Below is research on voluntary sector involvement in public service delivery around the country, much of it by NAVCA members.
If there is research work or reports you think would be useful sharing please contact lcpu and we can list it here.
Briefing #79: Rhetoric and reality: The role of the sector in public service delivery
VSNW, May 2012
NSNW carried out a survey in early 2012 to test how the Government rhetoric on the principles laid out in the Open Public Services White Paper was reflected in the experiences of the voluntary sector in the North West. The results of this survey have been included in this briefing along with an exploration of the differences between rhetoric and reality, and highlights where further investigation may be required
Local payment by results
Audit Commission, April 2012
The Audit Commission has published a briefing on payment by results (PbR) for local services. Their review of research evidence found 'few rigorous evaluations of PbR and no complete, systematic analysis of its effectiveness'.
They also recommend 'PbR is not the only contract type that rewards good performance, and commissioners should always consider other options alongside PbR to choose the most suitable approach'.
Responsible Reform: Open Public Services for All...
A joint report by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and North West Infrastructure Partnership (NWIP), February 2012.
- provides evidence that while the Big State failed to create resilient communities, the Small State is destroying what remains
- proposes a model of reform, through the use of 'small state equality', that will build local economic and social resilience. We see this model of equality as central to our future success as a nation. And linked to this...
- proposes a model of commissioning that bring together the best aspects of empowerment, decentralisation and accountability.
Tell us what the problem is and we'll try to help
Towards more effective commissioning of local voluntary sector organisations. NHS Commissioning and place based Voluntary and Social Enterprise organisations.
Commissioned by Voluntary Sector North West on behalf of Regional Voices. Funded by the Department of Health and conducted by Mark Gamsu, August 2011
This piece of work is an investigation based on the experiences of five voluntary organisations in the North West of England in the health environment. It includes some useful findings and five case studies.
Surviving or Thriving
VONNE & Newcastle CVS, August 2011
VONNE in partnership with Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service present the findings from their fifth survey in a continued monitoring of the impact of the economic downturn on the North East's third sector. The report has 7 recommendations and case studies including one on the impact of the DWP Work Programme and prime contractor procurement model.
A bridge between two worlds
NAVCA, 2011
A study of support and development organisations and intelligent commissioning, including case studies of good practice.
Evaluation of the Tender Support Project
This is an evaluation of NAVCA's Tender Support Project. The £70,000 project helped local charities win contracts worth over £1.6million.
Third Sector Directories Research Report
This report on the Directories Research Project, commissioned by the Five Counties Partnership, looks at the use and development of supplier directories in the third sector.
Some conclusions from the research indicate:
- Overwhelmingly, public sector commissioners supported the development of third sector supplier directories - they are seen as a highly useful and effective aide to commissioning processes
- Local support and development organisations manage the vast majority of directories
- Commissioners and procurement officers recognized that local support and development organisations were the most effective and efficient bodies to develop and manage directory content.
Outcomes in Advice
This research report is published by the BOLD project and produced by nef and AdviceUK, working with Advice Services Coventry. It demonstrates how advice services contribute to wider local priorities such as health, homelessness prevention, community safety and employment as well as applying SROI to case studies to estimate the financial value of advice interventions, but also to calculate the costs that accrue when public services get it wrong for citizens.
The Economic Significance of the Third Sector in Lincolnshire
Looking wider than just public service delivery, this research looks at the economic significance of the third sector, helping to evidence the impact and importance it has.
Download The Economic Significance of the Third Sector in Lincolnshire
Download an executive summary of The Economic Significance of the Third Sector in Lincolnshire
Opportunities and challenges for the voluntary and community sector
Yorkshire and Humber Forum, November 2010
Yorkshire and Humber Forum has produced a paper looking at the key issues facing voluntary sector commissioning in the Yorkshire region. The paper provides over 20 examples of good practice from the region and barriers to demonstrate the key issues.
Results of the Third Sector Commissioning Survey
VOSCUR, April 2010
A report looking at the results of a third sector commissioning survey in Bristol carried out by the Bristol ChangeUp Consortium, including NAVCA member VOSCUR. The survey looked at Bristol organisations' involvement in the early stages of commissioning, their readiness for commissioning, involvement in bidding and the ability of smaller organisations to engage with commissioning. The findings show a discrepancy between higher levels of readiness to engage and actual involvement and success at the bidding stage. A number of recommendations have been made drawing on the findings and the principles of intelligent commissioning, including the need for strong local support on commissioning.
Measuring social value: the gap between policy and practice
Demos, 2010
"Measures of social return are not like laws or sausages; you do want to understand how they are made"
The report looks into social value and methods of measuring it, such as Social Return on Investment. It concludes that SROI, while valuable, "can be an extremely ambitious goal". It reports on how 30 of organisations have measured and communicated methodologies to measure their social value.
"Three things seem particularly crucial: first, we should not forget our ultimate goal is social impact - measurement is merely a tool to help us maximise this; second, the move to better measures of social return on investment is a journey. The important thing is to embark on that journey, get the benefit from the first steps, and not worry too much that nirvana is a long way off; third, the sector is going to need a lot of help."
Download 'Measuring social value: the gap between policy and practice'
Are big charities becoming increasingly dominant?
A short paper from the Third Sector Research Centre looking at whether large charities have become increasingly dominant.
The paper explores incomes for a range of charities and concludes there is "no evidence" of a "tescoisation" of the charity sector, but that "the initially established organisations in general, but not the very largest in particular, have benefited most from the aggregate increase in income".
Involving Users in Commissioning Local Services
Joseph Rowntree Foundation, May 2010
A report/think-piece about service users' experiences and views of involvement in shaping services, and the experiences and views of commissioners when involving users. The research points to what is currently happening and what might be possible in the future shape of commissioning.
Survey of third sector organisations' experiences of the sub/prime contractor model in the delivery of DWP/Jobcentre Plus contracts
Pentagon Partnership. May 2010.
- Download Survey of third sector organisations' experiences of the sub/prime contractor model in the delivery of DWP/Jobcentre Plus contracts
Ineligible Applications: The Wasted Work of the Voluntary Sector
DSC has published research indicating that over one-third of applications to UK charitable grant-makers are ineligible, according to the funders That's over 360,000 applications in one year - help your members to avoid this wasted time and effort!
Grant making with the voluntary and community sector
Published in edited form by NAVCA in September 2010
A think-piece by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies with Voluntary Sector North West exploring the economic and social value of grant-making.
Briefing Paper for Sir Clive Booth, UK Chair of the Big Lottery Fund
- Derbyshire Contracts Advice Network (DCAN), October 2009
Here is paper produced by DCAN, a partnership of infrastructure organisations across Derbyshire lead by Chesterfield Links. DCAN are delivering a BASIS support programme on commissioning, procurement and contracts. This paper gives a summary after 2 years of the project of commissioning and the impact on the third sector in Derbyshire.
- Download "Briefing Paper for Sir Clive Booth" (PDF, 45KB)
Commissioning and the Third Sector
- BVSC, October 2009
A study of the way in which third sector organisations are responding to the challenges and opportunities presented by new commissioning guidelines.
- Download "Commissioning and the Third Sector" via the BVSC website.
Mapping local infrastructure organisations' commissioning and procurement activity
- NAVCA's Local Commissioning and Procurement Unit, 2009
A mapping survey was carried out between October and December 2008 to find out what activities LIOs were involved in and the resources they were using to carry out this work.
Equalities and Procurement Survey 2008
- The EHRC, the IDeA, the LGA and the Society of Procurement Officers in local government (SOPO), June 2009
Several pieces of research looking at how local authorities incorporate public sector equalities duties into different stages of the procurement process. All pieces can be downloaded via the LGA website.
Commissioning Excellence: Securing Innovation and Value from London's Voluntary Sector
- London Health Forum, December 2008
Looks at the quality of the commissioning relationship, particularly between the statutory and voluntary sectors in London. Includes recommendations for both commissioners and third sector providers.
- Download "Commissioning Excellence" (PDF 2.16MB)
Commissioning: Possible, Greater Manchester VCS Organisations' Experiences in Public Sector Commissioning
- GMCVO, November 2008
Provides an insight into the experiences of third sector organisations in Greater Manchester with public sector commissioning and makes recommendations for improving voluntary and community sector organisations' chances to contribute to health in Greater Manchester
- Download "Commissioning: Possible" (PDF 241 KB)
Commissioning outcomes and recovery
- London borough of Camden, October 2008
Information from Camden Council's Invest to Save project with nef and Voluntary Action Camden focusing on commissioning outcomes.
- Download "Commissioning outcomes and recovery"(PDF 572 KB)
Contracts, Cuts and closures: an uncertain future for South West Social Purpose Organisations
- South West Forum, October 2008
Research from the South West into the funding climate, demand for services and impact on end users.
- Download "Contracts, cuts and closures" (PDF 246 KB)
The Tender Subject of Tendering
- Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action, August 2008
Research into the effects of competitive tendering on the service delivery of the voluntary sector in Oxfordshire.
- Download "The Tender Subject of Tendering" (PDF 462 KB)
Who Delivers Services? A study of involvement in and attitudes to public service delivery by the Voluntary and Community Sector in the North West of England
- Centre for Local Governance at the University of Manchester, April 2008
The results from a survey in late 2007 in the North West on the make up of the regional third sector and involvement in public service delivery.
- Download "Who Delivers Services?" (PDF 6.82 MB)
Common Themes on Commissioning the VCS in Selected Local Authorities in Greater London
- London Councils, May 2007
This report looks at the impact of commissioning voluntary and community groups to provide public services in six areas within London. It focuses on developments in health and social care and highlights examples of good practice and common themes.
- Download "Common Themes on Commissioning the VCS" (PDF 379 KB)
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