Stone reveals strong NDNA performance

PC maker sees contract wins increase on the government-led National Desktop and Notebook Agreement scheme

System builder Stone has hailed its strong performance on the National Desktop and Notebook Agreement (NDNA) scheme, with a three per cent rise in contract wins.

The Staffordshire-based firm claims it has grabbed a 16 per cent share of desktop contracts during the summer period, equating to a three per cent year-on-year rise.

This includes recent wins at the Universities of Wolverhampton and Nottingham. Stone has been an appointed supplier within the NDNA agreement for the past four years, and was reappointed in 2009 following a tough six-month tender process.

Under the contract the firm supplies its own branded desktop offerings and is also a Samsung notebook supplier.

The NDNA framework agreement is open nationally to all Consortia-affiliated universities and colleges of higher and further education (including staff and students), together with the research council, in all six of the regional consortia: APUC, LUPC, SUPC, HEPCW, NEUPC and the NWUPC.

Mike Kilner, senior contracts manager at the London Universities Purchasing Consortium, said: “I am delighted to see that Stone continually strives to develop and improve the overall value it can add to the NDNA framework.

“The fact that universities, affiliated FE colleges, staff and their students can go to Stone and other framework suppliers safe in the knowledge they are getting highly competitive pricing backed up by negotiated terms means that the NDNA continues to be the most cost-effective procurement route for UK universities,” he said.

James Bird, chief executive of Stone, said: “2010 has so far been a significant year for Stone, with the move to our new state-of-the-art manufacturing and recycling facility, Granite One Hundred, and several significant education sector contract wins.

“We are proud that our ongoing growth is reflected in these market share figures and we look forward to making further progress within the NDNA framework throughout 2011.”