Better value for
money and millions of pounds of savings could be achieved by Fire
and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) joining up to buy goods and
services, says a new procurement strategy published today by the
Department for Communities and Local Government.
The National Procurement Strategy for the Fire and Rescue Service
in England 2009-12 encourages Authorities to work together to
achieve their joint needs while achieving best value through bulk
buying.
By co-ordinating their buying, Fire and Rescue Authorities could
save at least £3.5million a year from the £100million they spend
on goods and services such as vehicles, ladders and breathing apparatus.
FRAs are also being encouraged to consider how their choice of
suppliers can help increase career and training opportunities for
local people to benefit the economy and build Britain’s future.
As part of the new strategy, Communities Secretary John Denham is
encouraging Fire and Rescue Authorities to explore the potential
for skills development, apprenticeships and innovation when
joint-purchasing from suppliers.
Communities Secretary John Denham said:
“The new Procurement
Strategy for the Fire and Rescue Service will help Authorities
achieve value for money especially if they join up to buy a
product they all need. More efficient purchasing by Fire and
Rescue Authorities should enable them to save millions of pounds
to make the taxpayers’ pound go further.
“But it is not just about what money is spent on, but how it is
spent. If FRAs look at a wider range of suppliers, including
smaller companies, they have the opportunity to find the best
products to purchase, foster innovation, help to create jobs and
support local business.”
By widening the range of companies invited to tender, and
including smaller and medium sized enterprises, increased demand
for products may enable more jobs to be created. The strategy also
recommends making it easier and less costly for smaller companies
to apply by simplifying and standardising paperwork.
The Strategy also recommends that FRAs using professional buying
organisations - such as Buying Solutions, Central Buying
Consortium, the National Policing Improvement Agency and Firebuy –
will gain the most favourable contract terms and value for money
for the taxpayer. The new strategy encourages local Fire and
Rescue Authorities to widen their suppliers list and thus choice
of products because this will help them to get the very best
product for the job.
This Strategy is just one part of wider Government initiatives
that aim to get better value for tax payers’ money and support
economic development. The Department for Business Innovation and
Skills announced recently that every small business will now have
access free of charge to the Government’s website
www.supply2government.gov.uk which is the official
government portal for the advertisement of lower-value (typically
below £100,000) contract opportunities. This has the potential to
include FRA contracts. Searching for lower-value contracts across
the UK was previously only available as part of a commercial
subscription service, which cost up to £180 per year.
Notes to Editors
1. The National Procurement Strategy for the Fire and Rescue
Service in England 2009-12 is published on the Communities and
Local Government website: www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/frsprocurement2009
2. Supply2.gov.uk is the official government portal for the
advertisement of lower-value (typically below £100,000) contract
opportunities, and provides small businesses with access to
lower-value public sector contracts. www.supply2government.gov.uk
3. The site allows businesses to view contracts in a single
location, reducing the time taken to source opportunities, unites
buyers and suppliers and is cited as a best practice means of
advertising lower-value contract opportunities by HM Treasury and
the European Commission. This announcement is a move towards
delivering on a key recommendation outlined in the Glover Review –
that by the end of 2010 all public sector contract opportunities
should be accessible through a single, free online web portal.
4. SMEs include social enterprises, black and minority ethnic
enterprises, women’s and disabled owned enterprises and the
voluntary community sector.
Contacts:
Doreen Melville-Riddell
Phone: 020 7944 3288 Out of hours
020 7944 5945
press.office@communities.gsi.gov.uk