North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership

OGCbuying.solutions is a Government Purchasing Agency linked to, but not part of, the office of Government Commerce.  Its role is to let Purchasing Agreements for use by the wider public sector and all its Agreements have been properly let through the correct EU Procurement  Directives Procedures.  The range of Agreements which cover goods and services is enormous.  The Agreements include Framework requests for IT Hardware, IT Software, IT Consultancy and General Consultancy and Legal Services.  These are covered by the GCat, SCat and LCat Agreements.  Other agreements cover almost everything that Government Organisations buy including grounds maintenance.  Some are regionalised.
 
OCG Buying Solutions Agreements are for quality products and services and are with quality suppliers.  The overall value for money varies, with some representing excellent value for money and others less so.  During the coming months we will be identifying and publicising some of the Agreements that represent particularly good value for money. The biggest 'Catalogue' is 'Portfolio' which covers a general range of products for Building and Related Services.  The Construction Workstream this week recommended that people should consult the OGC Buying.Solutions catalogue.
 
We recommend that before any Local Authority considers letting a Contract or Agreement, they consult the OGC Buying Solutions catalogue.  This could eliminate the need for and cost of tendering and letting contracts.