Why do you need marketplace discovery?
Under the Procurement Act 2023, social housing organisations must meet new
expectations for transparency, value for money, and SME engagement, even for
below-threshold contracts. That makes early-stage discovery more important than
ever.
Marketplace discovery is not just about finding suppliers. It’s about shaping
procurement that is proportionate, competitive, and aligned with your strategic
goals. Whether you’re replacing legacy systems, exploring digital tools, or reviewing
service contracts, you need evidence-based insights to inform the right route to
market.
Golden Marzipan can help. We guide housing providers through structured pre-
procurement activity, ensuring compliance with the Act while enabling informed,
confident decision-making.
How marketplace discovery can help
We support you through every stage:
1. Business Case & Strategic Fit
Before defining requirements, we help you test the rationale for procurement itself. Is
this investment aligned with corporate strategy? Are there other ways to meet the
need, through internal delivery, collaboration, or process change? We support early-stage appraisal of options to ensure there’s a robust business case for procurement,
in line with value-for-money and public benefit duties under the Act.
2. Requirements Definition
We work with internal stakeholders to define your needs clearly and fairly—framing functional requirements, technical constraints, KPIs, and strategic outcomes in line
with Section 21 of the Act.
3. Preliminary Market Engagement
We undertake supplier research, facilitated discussions, or soft market testing complying with Section 16 and ensuring a level playing field for all potential
providers. Where appropriate, we advise publication of a preliminary market
engagement notice.
4. Strategic Options & Recommendations
We provide structured recommendations: direct award (where appropriate), open procedures, or use of frameworks or dynamic markets. All our advice considers transparency requirements, exclusion grounds, and contract value thresholds.
The outcome
You receive a clear, compliant pathway to procurement that:
- Reduces risk of challenge or delay
- Improves visibility and market confidence
- Ensures early alignment with procurement objectives under the Act
- Opens up opportunities for SME and VCSE involvement
- Enables smart, evidence-led decisions about suppliers and solutions
Marketplace discovery isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. It’s a chance to design a
better outcome—one that’s legally robust, socially responsible, and fit for the future.
Benefits to your organisation:
- A tailored solution that meets your requirements
- Scalability with a system that can grow and adapt to changing needs
- Improved compliance and security
- Enhanced service delivery and decision-making
- Best value
- Competitive advantage
Benefits to you:
- Shape your systems around your vision
- Expert guidance for peace of mind
- Time savings
- Assurance on your choice of system
- Improved collaboration across teams with integrated systems
- Clarity to deliver effective implementation
