Spectrum consumes £66m Scottish IT contract

Bradford reseller wins big-ticket deal to supply north-of-the-border public bodies with peripherals and consumables

The Scottish government has handed a four-year, £66m IT consumables contract to Spectrum Computer Supplies.

According to a contract award notice posted today, the framework agreement covers toner cartridges, storage technology, CD-ROMs and other accessories and supplies. Seven bids were submitted during the tender process, with Bradford-based Spectrum being given the nod.

The contract carries an estimated value of £66m excluding VAT, and runs for an initial two years, with the option of a two-year extension. The framework will be open for use by local and central government, emergency services, health authorities, higher education establishments and other publicly funded bodies.

The contract award decision was reportedly weighted 50 per cent towards cost, 18 per cent towards framework and account management delivery, 14 per cent towards "eCapability implementation", 12 per cent towards cost management and six per cent towards sustainability.

Recently filed accounts reveal that Spectrum, which operates as a hybrid distributor/reseller, grew its FY11 revenue 3.4 per cent to £49.9m. For the 12 months to 31 October 2011, operating profit was up five per cent to a little more than £3m.