Higher Education Procurement James Trotter Head of Procurement University of Leicester Barry Higgins Head of Procurement De Montfort University &
Structure Our environment Our spend Our processes Our plans
Our environment Reforms to European Procurement Directives Government Policy Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 Diamond Report 30% collaboration target HE Purchasing Consortia Marketisation Research funding reduction
University of Leicester – Spend Profile
Our processes Contract ValueProcurement Process Below £5kSingle written quote £5k - £25kThree written quotes Above £25kRequest for Quotation Via electronic process (e.g. In-Tend) Above £50k Tender (Led by University Procurement Team) Above EU thresholdEU Tender (Led by University Procurement Team)
Our plans Collaboration Joint pre-qualification process / Qualified supplier database Aligned policies, including SME-Friendly Policy Influencing the HE Sector Procurement Consortia Collaborative tender processes “Demand Segmentation” SME-relevant contracts identified Support Market-facing procurement professionals ‘How to do business with Universities’ workshops
Our plans Enabling access to the market / streamlining Joint pre-qualification process / Qualified supplier database Encouraging open advertising and local bids for low value contracts Proportionate financial standing and insurance levels Greater use of outcome specifications In-house training emphasising value of SMEs Performance measures include spend with SMEs Influencing the Supply Chain Selection/management of subcontractors tender questions Payment of subcontractors in 30 days
Summary Complex and dynamic environment Procurement never more important Leicestershire’s universities working together Collaboration/SME ‘Sweet Spot’ Good procurement = SME-friendly procurement