Tendering and procuring

EU tendering rules

~15% of the EU’s GDP is represented by public sector spending - therefore should be spent in the EU.Tender notices have to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC).The threshold levels are set in Euro (€220,000), and equates to ~£150,000 for goods and serviceswww.tenders.co.uk

EU tendering rules

Contracts may not be artificially split to make them fall below the threshold.European criteria for awarding tenders:

The lowest price only The most economically advantageous tender – using various criteria such as price, period for completion, running costs, profitability, technical merit.

If used, must state “most economically advantageous” method at point of tender advertising.

Buying big technology

Create a decision analysis matrixTalk to users of existing systems and servicesVendor assessment - will they be there in 5 years?

Try to never:be the 1st customer to buy the product!buy a proprietary product that will not allow open systems access and interoperability!

Decision matrix

Outsourcing

Why use bureau?Excessive cost of equipment or infrastructureLack of capability - not able to deliver quality neededLarge volumesShort timescaleSpecialist materialsSpecialist advice and experienceCheaper - well, sometimes!

www.ukoln.ac.uk/nof/support/help/papers/digitisation.htm

Outsourcing

What to look out for?security of originals - storage, handling etcpayment termsextremely clear specificationagreed reworking policycan they really do everything!insist on samples - use these as a benchmarkthe cheapest quote may mean corners are being cutthe most expensive quote can be due to lack of experience with the technologybeware sheepskin coats – the salesman syndrome!