Government Online Procurement

[aprisa]

I've been approached by a company (yet another Directory!) saying that all Government and Local Authority work must be procured online by 2005 and trying to sell listing space on a procurement website for £800!

Can anyone in the public sector tell me whether there is to be just one procurement site or is this yet another scam and things will proceed as now?

I do quite a lot of work for Birmingham Council and would contact their finance dept but the website is down and I don't fancy the pillar-to-post phonecall until I have contacted the PH Oracle.

Thanks
Nick

[thepeoplespal]

Sounds like a scam to me, £800 to get a listing, although the "all Government and Local Authority work must be procured online by 2005" bit might be correct.

It is very unlikely that there would be such high barriers to entry into the market place for a listing.

I'll talk to my mate next time I see him (next Wednesday) as he is pretty clued up on this sort of thing Re: Brummie Council

[julianhj]

I work for East Sussex CC, and haven't heard about that one, though I've only been in the public sectior for 6 months! Certainly the suppliers we use at the moment are local, and I'm pretty sure everything is done by phone and fax. I'll ask tomorrow for you.

[steviebee]

It's a guideline - not a requirement.

The government does not stipulate how local authorities buy stuff although the Audit Commission do ensure that all is fair and dandy!

The only legislation that exists is a European Directive that stipulates any single public sector purchase exceeding (IIRC) £175k must be tendered via OJEC.

Most authorities have sections on their website about "selling to us" which explains their protocols.

In short - don't go forking out £800!