Published
By Ashley Cox
As well as its compliant purchasing frameworks, CPC offers a number of Dynamic Purchasing Systems, which members can utilise as an alternative procurement approach, with the flexible, user-friendly style of these arrangements allowing fresh suppliers to come on board across the lifespan of the particular DPS.
Removing the need for your institution to undertake its own full, independent procurement exercise, each Dynamic Purchasing System brings together approved specialists who can help with your specific procurement quest, with its potential saving opportunities augmenting the benefits of simplified, compliant purchasing.
Much like CPC's framework agreements, a DPS serves as a gateway to its suppliers, facilitating the procurement of required goods, services and works, but benefitting from a handful of key differences. With a DPS, there is no fixed window of application for suppliers, who can continue to try to be added throughout. Furthermore, there is no cap or restrictions on the number of suppliers accepted, suggesting any additional providers may instigate even fiercer competition as the DPS continues; something which could, in turn, stimulate superior value for money for its users.
Of additional note, while a conventional purchasing framework will see pricing fixed at the point of tender, a DPS sees it determined at the contract stage and, unlike such a framework, a DPS does not offer a direct award facility, instead focusing solely on its inter-supplier competition. For more on the function of a DPS, click here.
While covering this subject, it is worth noting that some changes to the existing DPS model will come in with the arrival of Procurement Act 2023's new public purchasing regulations in October, regulations that will govern such purchases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (while Scotland retains many of its previous EU structures).
When the new regulations become law this autumn, Dynamic Purchasing Systems will be rebranded as 'dynamic markets'. On the surface, changes to the current DPS iterations may appear minimal to members. However, there will be some noteworthy differences, including removing the previous restriction that only let Dynamic Purchasing Systems offer common, off-the-shelf products for procurement. With this in mind, one might expect more dynamic markets to be established in future years, as their allowable scope will be subsequently broader.
As for now, here's a selection of DPS facilities on offer to members of Crescent Purchasing Consortium.
Minor Works DPS
CPC's Minor Works DPS contains no fewer than 29 lots, each enabling access to approved construction suppliers already vetted by CPC for their quality management, environmental management, heath and safety record and financial stability, as well as other factors. By eliminating any initial requirement for your establishment to establish said suppliers, CPC can quickly open the door to the compliant procurement of a host of minor works, with use of the Sourcing Cloud tendering platform ensuring all procurement processes undertaken will be fully auditable.
In addition, the DPS is open to applications from your previous or otherwise-known local contractor(s), allowing you to pit existing value or lack thereof against a pool of providers from perhaps outside your contacts or vicinity. With an extensive number of sub-categories within the remit of this DPS, from general building, construction and maintenance to safety equipment and beyond, we encourage you to visit its dedicated webpage for the full range.
Estates & Facilities Professional Services DPS
CPC's Estates & Facilities Professional Services DPS is formed of 14 lots and can help deliver a variety of adjacent programmes and projects, with its cohort of suppliers spanning the compliant provision of new builds, extensions, refurbishments, conservations/preservations, maintenance and demolitions, as well as equipment replacements.
As is typical, the DPS can eliminate some of the issues potentially posed by traditional tendering, while stirring the value-nurturing competition many members may be seeking. With a healthy number of participants at the time of writing ensuring significant choice for the vast majority of lots, this particular DPS is scheduled to run into 2028, giving members ample time to engage, then outline and authorise a range of estates and facilities undertakings.
Leasing Services DPS
Offering the provision of specialist guidance and advice from CPC's own appointed master lease vendor UniLink Finance, the Leasing Services DPS is able to facilitate your institution's access to new financial funding for assets, with several lots, including a loan option. With its mini competitions exclusively conducted via the Sourcing Cloud platform and managed by UniLink themselves, this approach ensures that procurement processes executed via the Dynamic Purchasing System are entirely auditable. As one might well expect, this CPC DPS benefits from UniLink's professional expertise in a broad field and our partners can promote their assistance with both interpretation and evaluation of bids received from lessors as part of the overall package. The DPS also maintains lessor compliance to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), IAS and UK GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The CPC Leasing Services DPS is managed via the MultiQuote platform, with would-be contractors able to apply via MultiQuote during its five-year lifespan. The DPS is scheduled to wrap up on 31st October in 2027, providing plenty of opportunity for interested institutions to make use of its leasing service support in a compliant manner.
Student Transport DPS
Finally, CPC's Student Transport DPS is the new kid in town, having launched earlier this year, and contains 12 lots, accounting for nine different English regions, as well as national lots for Wales and Scotland, plus Northern Ireland.
While CPC had already offered a traditional purchasing framework for Sustainable Fleet Solutions since October of 2022, some issues previously highlighted on this site concerning stock availability (including lead times of up to a year) might add to the attractiveness of the Student Transport DPS option. With its area of focus covering any transport used by students in an education setting, this DPS can help support institutions looking to establish a consistent, route-based, point A to B bus service with pick-ups, as well as the kind of classic coach trip taken by students and staff to facilitate educational visits. It can also cover the provision of visits to non-education sites of interest or tourist attractions, with now an ideal time to get the wheels turning on DPS procurement for 2024-25.
With CPC holding qualifying documents for its array of suppliers selected, members utilising this DPS are able to proceed with further competition amongst the pre-qualifying providers, safe in the knowledge their ability has been assessed and approved by our procurement professionals and their regulatory compliance established.
Click here for the complete current rundown of CPC Dynamic Purchasing Systems (as of August 2024) on offer to our 10,000+ registered CPC members. Members can also access Vending, Food Waste Management Services, EPOS Hardware and Software Systems, plus additional DPS arrangements via our partners at TUCO.