The public sector is responsible for procuring a wide range of goods and services, from office supplies to IT systems and end to end information management services. One effective way for public sector organisations to streamline their procurement processes and achieve cost savings is through the use of framework agreements.
A framework agreement includes a list of ‘pre-approved’ suppliers that a third party will have already vetted in order to support organisations to call off services and award contracts. The preapproval process for suppliers on framework agreements typically includes a qualification process that assesses the supplier’s ability to meet the required standards, specifications and quality of goods and services. This typically includes checks on the supplier’s financial stability, insurance, certifications, and references.
Potential Qualification Criteria
- Technical Capability: This includes a review of the supplier’s experience, qualifications, and equipment, as well as an assessment of their ability to meet the technical requirements of the framework agreement.
- Compliance: This includes checks on their compliance with health and safety regulations, environmental regulations, and data protection laws, as well as any other relevant compliance requirements.
- Pricing: This includes a review of the supplier’s prices, as well as an assessment of the supplier’s ability to offer competitive prices that meet the public sector organisation’s budget.
One of the main benefits of public sector procurement utilising framework agreements is cost savings. By pre-negotiating prices and terms with suppliers, public sector organisations can achieve significant savings on their purchases. Additionally, framework agreements can lead to economies of scale, as public sector organisations can purchase goods and services in bulk, further reducing costs.
Another benefit of framework agreements is that they increase efficiency in the procurement process. By pre-approving suppliers and establishing terms and conditions in advance, public sector organisations can save time and resources on the procurement process. This can be particularly beneficial for organisations that need to purchase goods and services quickly, such as in the case of emergency response.
Finally, framework agreements can also help to promote sustainable procurement. By specifying environmental and social criteria in the agreement, public sector organisations can ensure that the goods and services they purchase are produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way.
In conclusion, framework agreements are a powerful tool that public sector organisations can use to streamline their procurement processes and achieve cost savings. By pre-negotiating prices and terms with suppliers, public sector organisations can save time and resources, while also promoting competition and sustainable procurement.
Click here to find more information about the framework agreements that OASIS Group are registered on.
If you would like one of our experts to contact you about calling off the services and solutions from a framework please email us info@oasisgroup.com