Crescent Purchasing Consortium

Kings Norton Girls' School Sixth Form used the ICT Hardware and Peripherals Equipment framework and achieved such wonderful results they used it again shortly after the initial procurement!

The school had a requirement for 50 desktop computers with accompanying warranties. This was the first time they had used CPC's framework for the supply of their IT hardware and they experienced some fantastic benefits including time savings, cost savings and new supplier relationships.

Quicker turnaround times

The turnaround using the CPC framework was much faster than their previous IT procurements. Previously the school had contacted individual suppliers directly who were already known to them or had asked contacts in their network for supplier recommendations. Clare Skinner, Business Manager at the school and sixth form described the overall experience:

“Quick and easy – order placed within a week, no toing and froing or negotiation!”

Time savings

The framework enabled the school to save time as there wasn’t the need for negotiation due to cost effective bids they received via the CPC Quote Tool. The tool removed the requirement for them to contact three or more suppliers individually to gain quotes. The school just needed to input their requirements once on the CPC website and then the tool sent the request to all suppliers on the framework’s Desktop PC Solutions lot on their behalf. The suppliers then submitted their offering to the school via email for their review and selection.

Cost savings

The school were pleased to achieve cost savings of over £100 per item with the trade in amount included – this saving is measured against a quote from the school’s usual supplier. They were also delighted to form relationships with the fully vetted suppliers they accessed via the framework.

Overall experience

The school found the experience so brilliant that when asked if they would use the framework again, Clare Skinner, Business Manager said:

“We just ordered more IT equipment for the school via the CPC this week. It took 72 to hours to tender, quote and order more IT equipment with some being delivered today – fantastic!”

Jane Edwards, CPC’s Category Manager for AV and ICT said:

“It’s great to hear Clare had such a good experience using the framework and that the school saved money and time as part of the process. We look forward to Kings Norton Girls’ School & Sixth Form hopefully using more of our frameworks for their requirements. It is lovely to hear positive feedback, especially as this is the first framework I have let at CPC.”

Find out more at www.thecpc.ac.uk 

A group of schools had a requirement for an experienced cleaning supplier who could improve cleaning standards across multiple sites.

Trinity Church of England School, Belvedere Junior School, Blackfen School for Girls and Woodland Academy Trust used CPC’s Building Cleaning Service to conduct a tendering process to appoint one cleaning supplier across a total of six sites.

Our strategy

Crescent Consultancy’s approach was to assign our locally based consultant to the project, who used his extensive cleaning procurement expertise and was able to understand the organisations’ aims and objectives and recommended the most effective route to market. Providing a tailored tender service to ensure an experienced supplier was appointed to improve cleaning standards and reduce contract costs.

Our expertise

CPC developed a bespoke specification that included the individual site requirements, hosted site visits and presentations, evaluated tenders, created a recommendation report and developed contract documents for this project. Throughout the process the consultant ensured compliancy was achieved and provided expert advice and guidance to the organisations. The project was conducted via a PCR 2015 Restricted Procedure route to market as that was agreed to be the most effective route to market for this particular project.

 The outcome

CPC successfully navigated a complex project which had different specifications and requirements across the sites. An experienced cleaning supplier was appointed to improve the standards and savings were achieved due to the reduced management costs and the sharing of machinery, due to a single supplier being appointed across several sites.

Find out how one of CPC’s Procurement Consultants can help your institution procure a cleaning contract by visiting our Cleaning Procurement Service page or contact us:

Email: consultancy@thecpc.ac.uk