1. Regional Procurement Manager
East Midlands Fire & Rescue Services
“Supporting Collaborative Procurement”
Paul Schofield
Regional Procurement Manager

2. Key Findings from Govt. Review (1)
Some isolated pockets of good practice and examples of collaboration between FRA’s
In general, little or no coordination of Procurement activities between FRA’s
Procurement was fragmented and generally not viewed as a strategic activity within FRA’s – perceived as reactive and transactional in nature
Procurement management information was not widely available to the senior management team – lack of visibility
Lack of dedicated Procurement expertise and business focus to unlock potential efficiencies

3. Key Findings from Govt. Review (2)
Poor finance & procurement systems and processes being used by FRA’s
Limited resources and limited overall procurement capacity
The Procurement function was generally viewed as having little influence/impact on other major areas of expenditure (e.g. ICT, Property & Estates and Fleet)
No consistent approach across FRA’s
Existing practices open to potential legal challenge

4. Key Outcomes The National Procurement Strategy for UK FRS’s 2005-2008
The appointment of Regional Procurement Managers or Regional Champions by RMB’s
Recommendation to all RMB’s to develop a 3 year rolling Procurement Plan
Encourage FRA’s to develop their own local Procurement Plans to support their local Capital & Revenue Expenditure plans

5. Key National Procurement Strategy Targets
FRSP1 - National Procurement (CFOA NPB and Firebuy)
FRSP2 - Regional Procurement through RMB’s
FRSP3 - Training and Development
FRSP4 - Procurement Performance and Systems
FRSP5 - Responsible Procurement
FRSP6 - Risk Management
FRSP7 - Delivery of Efficiency Savings
FRSP8 - Contract Management and Contract Performance
FRSP9 - Technical Services
FRSP10 - Delivering e-Procurement Systems

6. Collaboration ………………. Together we are stronger!!
The purchasing power of individual FRA’s for ICT solutions is weak
Collaborating with other FRA’s and public sector organisations makes us stronger with a much bigger purchasing power
Buying Solutions (executive agency of HMG Treasury) is one organisation that can help ICT Managers maximise their purchasing power

7. Using Public Sector Buying Organisations
Introducing:
Andrew Gibson of Buying Solutions who will now explain the key benefits from the new Microsoft Public Sector Agreement (PSA09)