How our new Non-Clinical Systems DPS meets best practice
The Technology (ICT) Category team at NOE CPC have been working hard to ensure the new Non-Clinical Systems Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) meets best practice for public purchasing.
Here, the Senior Category Manager for Technology (ICT) at NOE CPC, Alison Petrie, shares her thoughts on why this was so important, and how the new DPS meets these high standards.
“With one in every three pounds of public money now spent on procurement – a total of £300bn a year in the UK – it has never been more important to ensure that it is spent properly and in accordance with best practices.
“As well as following the strict principles of unbiased decision-making, compliance with procurement legislation and fairness to all, we must ensure that the public get the best value for money.
“That’s why it’s important for buyers in the public sector to fully engage the market when they carry out a procurement, instead of going direct to a favoured supplier.
“It is also important that, while we ensure the market is fully engaged, we streamline that process as much as possible, which aligns with our organisational value of keeping things simple.
“That is why I am so proud of our new Non-Clinical Systems DPS, which combines the need to fully engage the market with a simple and effective tool which allows customers to find the right supplier for their requirements quickly and easily.
Supplier Selection Tool
“The DPS has been structured so that you can have full visibility of potential suppliers, in compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, and you can onward compete your requirements by running a further competition or requesting quotations from all sub-category suppliers using our online Supplier Selection Tool.
“Once you have identified the awarded supplier, you can contract utilising the template documents available from the fileshare area of the NOE CPC website, thereby reducing operational resources.
“It is important to note that although direct award is not an option under the DPS, this compliant route to market offers customers the chance to shortlist suppliers by the relevant sub-category and request bids from all relevant suppliers to demonstrate value for money whilst meeting operational and quality requirements.
“This robust procurement vehicle, provided with the NHS in mind, delivers on the mantra that we are for the NHS, by the NHS.”
Accreditations
“All awarded suppliers are asked to demonstrate minimum accreditations, certificates, and other standards as part of the onboarding process, aligning with the NHS England technical and quality minimum standards. These will continue to be checked by NOE CPC annually throughout the life of the DPS as part of our standard supplier audit procedures.
“Sustainability and Social Value (SSV) was assessed against the scope of the DPS as part of the onboarding process, with awarded suppliers providing measurable commitments under one or more of the social value themes.
Growing capability
“The capacity, therefore, capability within the NOE CPC Category team has grown extensively in recent years, and our objective is to provide category expertise and support to customers in order to collaborate where possible and deliver a range of benefits when purchasing ICT goods and services.
“By speaking to our customers and suppliers, we established that there was a need for a new DPS that catered for the wide, and sometimes niche range of non-clinical systems that are required across the NHS.
“In creating this DPS, our customers have a flexible and fluid route to market, which allows vendors to bid and join throughout its lifespan. The DPS also allows for the introduction of new system sub-categories, therefore it can evolve with changes in the technology market.
“The DPS currently covers a range of non-clinical system sub-categories, including in the areas of Healthcare Support Systems, Data and Analytics, Business Management, Estates and Facilities, and Finance and Procurement.
“Anyone who would like to use the new Non-Clinical Systems DPS, or any of our free-to-access frameworks, can simply register with our website and visit our Contracts page.
“If you wish to meet the team and discuss how they can support you in your own or regional ICT buying activities, please contact the team via the NOE CPC Support Desk.”