Certificate of Professional and Technical Ability (CoPTA) – help of hinderance????

I recently saw some on-line discussion about the CoPTA requirements of the Management Consultancy 4 (MCF4) Framework which Crown Commercial Services (CCS) are currently running on behalf of HM Government (HMG). This framework being a replacement for MCF3, which expires on 23rd August 2025, and is worth up top ￡1.7bn over 2 years from 22nd July 2025.??

For those interested click here to link to the CCS MCF4 pages.

What is a CoPTA?

They are a formal document that is used within the UK Public Sector which is analogous to References / Case Studies. Can apply to individuals and / or Organisations – the terms of the Opportunity will spell out how, and when they apply. The biggest differences between COPTAs and References / Case Studies are:

• That Bidders have to provide previous Customer / independently endorsed documents upfront, as part of their Bid, rather than relying upon the Buying Organisation following up after the fact
• They are / require direct linkage – usually via CPV Codes – between previously delivered Goods and / or Services and those being sought by the Opportunity
• They can form part of an initial “sift” of bids as a way of focusing the competition – so you may be excluded earlier in the process (ie before formal evaluation of your solution / proposal) ?

Their purpose is risk mitigation / management; to demonstrate that Suppliers have BOTH the Technical Knowledge, Experience AND Capacity / Capability to deliver similar requirements under the Opportunity being offered.

Demonstration may be generated in different ways:

• External [independent] accreditation; eg ISO9001, ISO14001, etc
• Professional Bodies / Associations; eg CIPD, ACCA, CMI, CILT, etc
• Examples of past work similar to the requirements [Goods and / or Services] now being sought
• May have Quantity, Time and / or Value limitations; eg delivered at least 4 contracts of ￡350,000 each in the last 3 years

They are usually Mandatory requirements, which may be evaluated in a range of different ways:

• Pass / Fail – have you provided the required CoPTAs or not
• Evaluated – in the required CoPTAs how much of the requirements do you meet [or not]
• Hybrid – a combination of BOTH Passs / Fail AND Evaluated?

So, help or hinderance?

In the discussion that I saw the arguments against can be summarised as:

• Quantity, Time and / or Value limitations restrict who can respond to the Opportunity
• HMG Policy is to encourage involvement of, and support for Smal & Medium Enterprises (SME) HMG SME Definition
• Cost, time and effort required to obtain the CoPTAs unfairly discriminates against SME

So are these valid complaints / issues?

Yes, but…..remember Public Sector Buying Organisations have a legal duty to ensure that Public Money is spent wisely and delivers Value for Money and the use of COPTAs are part of how they can demonstrate they are undertaking appropriate due diligence. The requirement to front load the activity onto Bidders is also a benefit (to the Buying Organisation) in that it better ensures that only capable Bidders are taken further into the process both shortening the process and the effort required, whilst still delivering a good outcome. ?

However, if they set the requirements too strenuously and / or evaluate the submitted COPTAs in too simplistic a manner then there may well be merit in the arguments against. ?

How can we navigate the requirements?

There are two basic approaches with the first offering potentially more of a quicker route; though even the second offers the potential for [significant] short term opportunity:

• Become a Tier 2 supplier to a larger entity who can more easily meet the CoPTA requirement in their own right.

Remember that Tier 1 Suppliers will be looking to demonstrate that they can meet other HMG Policy objectives, that are likely to be evaluated as part of the Opportunity; eg Social Value; SME involvement [within the Supply Chain]

• Look for other tender opportunities both from across Central Government but also within Local Government and Other Public Sector entities

That may have lower, less stringent, requirements and as such build up your credibility

A final thought (or two)….

For Suppliers / Bidders

Whilst MCF4 is likely to be the single largest Opportunity for provision of Management Consultancy services to HMG over the next 2 years it is NOT the only route to market from both CCS and the Public Sector as a whole.? In addition to MCF4 CCS offer, and operate – especially in the Technology space – multiple other Frameworks that have a degree of overlap with MCF4. Whilst CCS tend to offer the largest value contracts individual Central Government Departments, Local Government Organisations and Other Public Sector Entities can, and do, offer contracts for these Services too. The key thing to remember about these other Opportunities is that they are usually framed in such a way as to be usable by ANY other Public Sector organisation, and NOT just be restricted to the organisation who lets the original Opportunity.??

Given that MCF4 only has an expected 2 year life taking action now could put you in a good place for its replacement in 2 years time.

As part of the Procurement Act 2023 a Central Digital Platform (aka database) is to be created, this will hold details of registered Suppliers which may include COPTA information – full details still to be confirmed – which should make bidding for Opportunities simpler, and quicker, moving forward. ?

For buying organisations

In line with existing HMG Policy in respect of seeking innovation, working with SME, and [pre]market engagement – which are being reinforced with the formal introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 (from 24th February 2025) think carefully how you BOTH structure, AND evaluate, your COPTAs with perhaps less focus upon a simplistic Pass / Fail approach.?

About the Author

Simon Hay has 25+ years of consulting / interim experience developing, delivering and implementing Supply Chain and Procurement projects in industries across both the Public and Private Sectors including Central Government, ?NHS / Health, MoD, Aerospace, Pharmaceuticals, FMCG / Retail, Food & Drink and Telecoms