Anthony Rowell, business development manager, Pureprint Group
Anything that will make it simpler for a supplier to supply would be broadly welcomed. We apply for quite a few government tenders, with around 30 last year, and have had good success with them. One way to simplify the process would be not having to requalify such issues as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Often, many questions are still asked of you even if you already have such qualifications. Also, the emphasis is always placed on price. From a sustainable point of view, it would be good to see less emphasis on cost and more on the environment. There needs to be a balance between financial and ethical goals.
Matthew Parker, director of consultancy, Print and Procurement
While any move to simply tenders and reduce the effort undertaken by suppliers is to be welcomed, it does not appear that the qualification criteria for suppliers is being published. Neither does it appear mandatory to publish this for individual tenders. I feel that more clarity should be available to suppliers so that they do not waste time applying for qualification when they may be automatically excluded and so that they have the option to introduce changes to their businesses that would make them eligible for qualification. Ideally, such a process would be transparent by asking suppliers to show how they work to required standards.
David Sink, print production manager, F1 Colour
I feel that the best way to simplify the government tendering process would be to reduce the duplication of questions and make them more relevant to the tender involved. It would also be advisable for them to place more reliance on the financial history and stability of a supplier and less reliance on their ‘policies’. The majority of the policies government departments want to know about should, in this day and age, be a given, and cutting down on the amount of this sort of information required in tenders would finally reduce the timescales for the return of PQQs.
Tony Massey, group sales and marketing director, HH Print Management
Any measure that simplifies the process should be welcomed; this has been one of the cornerstones of the print management movement in recent years. Whether breaking £12m of print into three frameworks and appointing one government department to act on behalf of another will be effective remains to be seen. It still doesn’t sound optimal. However, we should keep an open mind. Possibly by approaching the market in this way, the COI can support numerous organisations at various levels in the marketplace at a time of acute need. If it creates some transparency, with a fair and level playing field, then it represents progress.
