History

Government Procurement Service was initially set up as The Buying Agency in 1991 and, following the Gershon review of Central Government Procurement in 1999 a new organization, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), was set up within HM Treasury.

The Buying Agency was transferred to Office of Government Commerce (OGC) as an Executive Agency in 2000, and merged with the Managed Services Division of Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) in 2001 to form a new Executive Agency of OGC.

The Agency changed its name to OGCbuying.solutions in 2001 and then in April 2009 changed its name to Buying Solutions in order to differentiate itself from OGC and clarify the respective roles of each body.

In October 2009 responsibility of NHS PASA’s non clinical procurement activities were transferred to Buying Solutions.

In June 2010 Buying Solutions, along with OGC, moved from HM Treasury to the Cabinet Office to become part of the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG).

In March 2011 Buying Solutions became the delivery arm of Government Procurement within the Cabinet Office following a Strategic Review commissioned by Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office.

In July 2011, Buying Solutions was renamed Government Procurement Service to reflect its new role as working at the heart of Government Procurement.

Future

We are committed to improving service delivery through increased customer focus and commercialism. To meet our stretching strategic objectives set and to drive a programme of continuous improvement, our key areas of focus are:

• Driving the delivery and development of the Government Procurement Service
• Continued delivery of savings
• ‘e’Enablement of our operations
• Operational and financial efficiency
• Development and retention of high quality professional staff