After posting an aggregated requirement for 10,000 PCs for an online tendering auction, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has denied such a move is prohibitive to smaller firms wishing to tender.

The requirement for 5,000 desktops and 5,000 laptops went to an eAuction last week, where potential suppliers were invited to tender decreasing bids online.

The PCs will be available to all public sector bodies and the OGC claimed this would allow smaller groups to reap the cost benefits of bulk buying.

Earlier this year, the government unveiled plans to give 30 per cent of all public sector contracts to SMEs. The OGC maintains it is committed to hitting this target.

An OGC representative denied the eAuction process was not SME-friendly, claiming some had enjoyed success in the eight IT hardware auctions that have already taken place.

“The OGC is fully committed to the government’s policy goal on supporting SMEs,” said the representative. “eAuctions are just one method open to all interested suppliers.”

Phil Dick, director of reseller NTS, told CRN he was sending staff on a course to educate them on public sector tendering.
“The process is often frustrating and it is not always clear what constitutes a successful tender,” he said. “But we are investing in training people in how the process works.”

Another reseller, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The esoteric way in which you have to structure a tender response and the amount of work involved is not worth it for many SMEs.”

Phil McCabe at the Forum of Private Business said: “Plans to force firms to promote trade union membership to be eligible for government contracts are in direct contrast to the 30 per cent target.”