2nd March 2010: Stone Group, a technology solutions provider to the education and public sector, has been appointed as a listed supplier on the Commoditised IT Hardware and Software Framework Agreement from Buying Solutions, the national procurement partner for UK public services and an Executive Agency of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) within HM Treasury. Stone Group is one of only 12 suppliers throughout the UK within Lot 1 – the section of the framework agreement regarding desktop hardware – and will retain this position for the next three and a half years.
Some UK public sector organisations elect to only procure products and services from Buying Solutions, preventing suppliers who are not on the relevant framework agreements from accessing this market. By fulfilling the appropriate criteria, including price competitiveness, high levels of information security and quality customer satisfaction, IT suppliers can earn inclusion within the framework as a listed supplier and therefore be granted easier access to the public sector market, including central government departments, NHS Trusts, Councils and educational establishments.
James Bird, CEO of Stone Group, comments, “Buying Solutions is the only Professional Buying Organisation with the remit to let national framework agreements which can be used by the wider public sector across the UK and we are delighted to be included within its Commoditised IT Hardware and Software framework. It would be no exaggeration to say that this award has the potential to dramatically change our business.”
Buying Solutions is the largest of over 40 Professional Buying Organisations (PBO) in the wider public sector. Whilst the OGC sets procurement policy and best practice to help the UK public sector achieve value from its spending, Buying Solutions delivers practical procurement solutions to customers throughout the public sector.
The procurement process involved completing a comprehensive tender, evidencing excellence in many business areas, including public sector knowledge and experience, sales generation, customer satisfaction, quality of delivery service, price competitiveness and sustainability. Bird adds, “Stone Group has been awarded a framework agreement based upon its proven track record within the public sector, as well as key service offerings such as recycling, support and maintenance. Indeed, The Stone Group is the only UK computer manufacturer with ownership over its own recycling facility.”
Bird concludes, “We have also committed to moving to extensive new premises later this year, including new manufacturing facilities that will treble our output capacity. This move is part of a significant growth and recruitment drive, which will allow us to not only meet our self-imposed growth targets of 30% for this financial year, but will also enable us to comfortably meet the increased demand this Buying Solutions framework agreement may create.”