Bid number (for EG use) | |
Lead bidder | Proc-SNI - the purchasing consortium for
universities, colleges and research institutes
in Scotland and Northern Ireland Convener - Dr Peter W A West, Secretary of
the University of Strathclyde, McCance
Building, 16 Richmond St., Glasgow G1 1XQ. Tel. 0141 548 2001 Fax 0141
553 1521 Email:
p.west@mis.strath.ac.uk Secretary - J Douglas Bell, Proc-SNI, 34
Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9JT Tel 0131 650
4082 Fax 0131 667 9801 Email:
douglas.bell@ed.ac.uk |
Brief description of the aims of the
project | To extend the benefits of e-procurement to
HE/FE institutions across Scotland through
their progressive migration on to the proven
eProcurement Scotl@nd (ePS) programme. To use
that platform to develop procurement
collaboration between Proc-SNI and public
sector bodies to secure value for money
improvements and more resource for front line
deployment. |
Clear description of what the EGF money
would be used to buy | The project would be in three parts. - Consultancy services to carry out a
detailed, sector-wide scope of readiness
assessment, to conduct an options appraisal
for an integrated procurement strategy for
the tertiary education sector in Scotland,
to propose a preferred option and
supporting business case coupled with a
costed implementation programme.
- An implementation programme based upon
the findings of part1.
- Provision of additional resource within
Proc-SNI for project co-ordination,
programme management and benefits
tracking.
|
Partners to the project likely to commit
resources | Resources will be drawn from participating
member institutions of Proc-SNI (see list
attached). Indications at present are that most
of these institutions will participate although
a small number are considering / pursuing
independent routes. |
Names of other organisations with whom the
project has been discussed (to assist the
introductions process) | Universities Scotland Scottish Funding Councils for Higher and
Further Education Scottish Executive
Procurement Directorate |
Evidence that suggested approach has been
deployed successfully elsewhere | The proposed project builds upon the
considerable experience gathered by the
Scottish Executive Procurement Directorate in
rolling out ePS to a wide range of public
service partners in Scotland. The scope of
readiness assessment and options appraisal is
recognised as a key component in capturing the
attention and support of senior management in
what is effectively a programme of business
change to practices and processes. The initial consultancy period for this
project will be based upon the 'sector wide'
initial approach adopted successfully in the
NHS in Scotland and that used for the West of
Scotland Local Authorities. |
Are there any restrictions to potential for
enlargement of the project (i.e. technology,
number of partners etc) | Very few HE or FE institutions have made
much progress with the implementation of
e-Procurement systems and platforms. Costs and
complexity of migration coupled with
uncertainty as to the service offering to
select have been impediments to progress, as
have classic organisational change issues. The
project will seek to remove all such
impediments and should be embraced by all
institutions except those very few that are
considering, or have committed themselves
already to, other service providers. |
Benefits projected from the project | - Cost and price reductions
- Reduced process costs for both buyers
and suppliers
- Increased contract compliance and
adherence to business workflows
- Control of off-contracting
spending
- Reductions in time from order to
acquisition
- Automated record-keeping, generation of
procurement data and improved management
information
- Resource savings from more
collaborative contracting
- Business benefits to suppliers
- Improved measurement and planning
- Shared approach to supplier
engagement
|
Estimated financial projections | Total | 2005/6 | 2006/7 | 2007/8 | 2008/9 |
Overall project cost (please see narrative
for detail) | £4,848,500 | £375,000 | £3,175,000 | £647,500 | £651,000 |
Estimated projected benefits (please see
narrative for detail) | £18,000,000 | - | - | £9,000,000 | £9,000,000 |
Is a pilot required - see guidance notes | No |
Additionally: why is EG funding required | e-Procurement implementation would not
extend across the HE/FE sector in Scotland in a
rapid, coordinated way without the catalyst of
such funding. If it happened at all it would be
in a fragmented and less efficient / effective
way. |
Is this project complementary in any way to
other EG work | Yes, it extends both the aims and the
reality of the spread of ePS and also
represents a previously unidentified set of
savings opportunities and targets in the HE /
FE sector and is therefore in addition to
already identified EG targets. |
Is "stage 2 development funding"
requested? | Yes. The initial piece of work is to
identify fully the scope of the overall
opportunity and to develop a specified and
costed programme implementation plan.
Consequently, the phase 1 bid underpins the
specification of the whole programme and
provides the business case for stage 2. |