History to date
Government Procurement Service, a Trading Fund, was originally known as The Buying Agency on 1 April 1991 under the Government Trading Funds Act 1973. The Buying Agency was launched as an Agency on 31 October 1991.
Following the Gershon review of Central Government Procurement in 1999, a new organisation, 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 on 1 April 2000 and the Managed Services Division of Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) merged on 1 April 2001 to form a new Executive Agency of OGC.
The Agency changed its name to OGCbuying.solutions on 3 April 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.
On 1 October 2009 responsibility 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 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 at the heart of Government Procurement.