OGC unveils online service
VARs to be given a hand winning public-sector contracts
VARs have been given a helping hand to crack public-sector contracts, after the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) unveiled new online procurement tools.
E-sourcing technology firm BravoSolution has signed a four-year deal with OGCbuying.solutions, the OGC's trading arm, to supply a web-based e-sourcing service covering the full tendering and quotation process. The service is due to go live in May.
Sarah Cotgreave, head of e-commerce at OGCbuying.solutions, told CRN: "Eliminating the paperwork and costs of traditional procurement will make it easier for SMEs to bid for contracts."
Tony Davis, managing director of VAR Elcom IT, said: "Anything that helps open up public-sector work is good. My only concern is that the focus is on price. Some e-auction systems in the past have taken out the relationship and value-add resellers can provide."
In January the OGC teamed up with the Department of Trade and Industry's Small Business Service to create a portal listing UK public-sector contracts worth up to £100,000.