News

1
News
ESPO Contracts Aprils Focus is on Financial
Services
CONTRACT 384 Banking Services Framework ESPO is
currently meeting with both providers (HSBC and
Co-op Bank) to review progress on the Banking
Services Framework. Under discussion is version 2
of the User Guide which is planned for issue
during April 2009. The procurement process to
establish the Framework was fully compliant
throughout with the requirements of the relevant
legislation, in particular the Public Contracts
Regulations 2006, and the European Union Public
Procurement Directive. Through further
competition this framework allows a faster and
simpler procurement route to all the commercial
services normally associated with business
banking. This unique arrangement is available
now for use by all local authorities and public
bodies throughout the UK.
CONTRACT 984 Corporate Bailiff Services
Framework This Framework allows for a broad
all-encompassing service including amongst other
areas, the collection of road traffic debts
(parking fines) arising from the enforcement of
decriminalised parking restrictions, the payment
of Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Business
rate (NNDR). The arrangement is available now
for use by all local authorities and public
bodies. The three suppliers (Jacobs, Phoenix
Commercial Collections and Rundle and Co) may be
accessed without the need for further
competition. For further information on these
frameworks, please visit www.espodealingdirect.org
or contact ESPO Senior Buyer, Richard Skelton,
email r.skelton_at_espo.org or call 0116 294 4010.
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News
ESPO Contracts Aprils Focus is on Financial
Services
PROCUREMENT IN PROGRESS Framework Cash
Collection Framework for the Provision of Cash
Collection Services. ESPO is proposing to
establish a framework agreement for the provision
of cash collection services. The proposed
arrangements will include both the collection
itself, secure transportation and delivery, as
well as related services such as cash counting
and processing. We anticipate that, depending
upon the bids received, a range of service
providers (including both national and regional
companies) will be included in the framework,
which will be available for use throughout the
East and West Midlands regions.
Operationally, whilst the option to call off
services under this framework may be feasible, it
is likely that further competitions will be the
usual route for engaging suppliers, given the
varied nature of individual authorities specific
requirements. Our timetable for this exercise is
to invite tenders (on an open basis) during April
2009, and to have the framework available for use
from July 2009. For further information on this
framework, please contact ESPO Buyer, Jon
Lisle. Email j.lisle_at_espo.org or call 0116 265
7877.
3
News
Pro5 - ESPO Contract 115 Framework for Outdoor
Playground Equipment
Five professional buying organisations with a
combined purchasing power of 2 billion are set
to offer local authorities outstanding deals in
key markets following an historic agreement to
work together. The Eastern Shires Purchasing
Organisation, Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation,
Central Buying Consortium, West Mercia Supplies
and the North Eastern Purchasing Organisation
have agreed to work together as the Pro5 and
have agreed a business model to underpin their
collaborative efforts. Under these arrangements,
the Pro5 will identify and promote the best deals
for local authorities, including those offered by
other professional buying organisations. Pro5
contracts will be opened out and be available
nationally. The Pro5 recognises that local
authorities are facing increasingly demanding
efficiency and improvement agendas and by working
together and with other buying organisations,
they can provide local authorities with a far
more effective service than if they were working
separately.

• A simpler way to purchase play equipment.
• From 1st April 2009 there will be a new
  procurement framework available for play
  equipment design and installation. It has the
  potential to help local authorities reduce the
  cost and time involved in their procurement
  process.
• The Pro5 group of local authority consortia,
  working with the DCSF, will make this national
  framework available for the entire public sector
  to access. The framework will cover all aspects
  of the refurbishment and building of outdoor
  playgrounds. This framework will
• be available at no cost to the purchaser,
• facilitate mini-competition - addressing an
  authoritys specific requirements regarding
  stakeholder engagement (children, parents, local
  communities, planning requirements etc) - full
  details will be provided in the methodology to
  adopt document,

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News
Pro5 - ESPO Contract 115 Framework for Outdoor
Playground Equipment

• provide discounts from a range of companies,
• be fully EU compliant. The framework will not
  only provide purchasers with savings compared
  with the going it alone approach, but will save
  considerable time and cost in relation to
  compliance with the EU Procurement Directives.
  Local authorities should not rely on the EU Works
  threshold to avoid EU compliance,
• seek to achieve best value by aggregating the
  purchasing power of the DCSF play  funding,
• cover bespoke design, manufacture and
  installation,
• offer a supply-only schedule if requirements are
  confined to supply only.
• The DCSF urges all local authorities to take note
  of this new procurement framework when deciding
  on your procurement approach.  This could enable
  you to get the best value from your capital
  investment in play, and has the potential to make
  the procurement process more straightforward. For
  further details please contact your appropriate
  or nearest consortium.

Central Buying Consortium (CBC) Julie
Cripps Email julie.cripps_at_kent.gov.uk Tel
01622 605 444 Eastern Shires Purchasing
Organisation (ESPO) David Johnston Email
d.johnston_at_espo.org Tel [phone]
7943 North Eastern Purchasing Organisation
(NEPO) Andrea Tickner Email AndreaTickner_at_gatesh
ead.gov.uk Tel [phone] West Mercia
Supplies (WMS) Emma Dimelow Email
edimelow_at_westmerciasupplies.co.uk Tel 01743
237314 Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation
(YPO) Katey Stothard Email kateys_at_ypo.co.uk Tel
01924 834855