The Government expects all local authorities to be 100% capable of delivering services electronically by 2005. This includes the ability to carry out e-procurement - using electronic systems to source, order, invoice, and pay for goods, works and services from suppliers.
The approach is expected to improve efficiency and effectiveness of procurement, resulting in a number of benefits and resource savings for local government and suppliers through faster processing, better use of information, reduced transaction costs and more effective communication.
The Government has published a National Procurement Strategy for Local Government and has set some priorities for all local authorities:
- Online publication of Selling to the Council Guides
- Appropriate systems for paperless ordering, invoicing and payment
- Promoting the advantages of e-procurement to local suppliers
- Improvement in the time taken by local authorities to pay invoices
- Regional cooperation between local authorities on e-procurement and purchasing
To help us to meet these priorities we have published our own three year E-Procurement Strategy. This commits us to making the best use of information and communication technology to reduce the cost of the procurement process for both the Council and its suppliers and contractors. E-Procurement is not seen as an opportunity to drive down prices at the expense of suppliers and contractors.
Broadly our timetable is:
Year 1 - Consulting suppliers, reviewing current processes, and developing appropriate electronic systems
Year 2 - Developing electronic advertising, tendering and contract awarding
Year 3 - Reviewing the impact of the new processes and investigating other options
You can view our Strategy by clicking on the document link below -