Published
By Ashley Cox
Procurement frameworks (and Dynamic Purchasing Systems) are CPC's bread and butter, but what exactly are they and what are the associated benefits available to our members? We've put together this Q&A to explain...
If you're new to Crescent Purchasing Consortium and looking for more on our slate of purchasing framework offerings, we hope this will help fill in some blanks and provide you with newfound confidence in the face of daunting procurement challenges. CPC can advise, guide and support, with our frameworks a central service.
So... what exactly are CPC frameworks?
CPC frameworks are an effective means of purchasing, designed and structured to make your buying simpler.
In putting together a new framework agreement, CPC will typically invite applications from domestic suppliers, who are subsequently assessed for their quality and capability to deliver. On using a framework, the contracting authority (your institution) will generally pit a number of approved suppliers against each other, driving superior potential value for money. Alternatively, under certain circumstances, the institution can make a direct award of their contract, safe in the knowledge the contractor's ability has already been established by CPC's expert team.
CPC offers frameworks to schools, academies, trusts, colleges and universities. These frameworks are each fully compliant with the current public procurement regulations, with a number recommended by the Department for Education. Future frameworks will be developed in line with the incoming Procurement Act law, while those under the existing Public Contract Regulations (2015) will continue to be governed by these rules until their expiry dates.
A Dynamic Purchasing System functions similarly to a framework, with a key difference being it can add new suppliers across its lifespan. These will become 'dynamic markets' when the Procurement Act goes live in 2025.
Why choose and use a CPC framework?
Using a CPC framework is quicker, easier and can result in significant savings, when compared to running any independent tendering process yourself. Saving you time and effort, CPC has put suppliers on each framework through a full and rigorous tender process to secure their position. As well as affirming the suppliers’ ability and, indeed, credibility, this process will often help suppress pricing; something which continues into the framework’s lifespan, where providers can vie for your business. CPC’s income from the framework process comes in the form of a small percentage of the suppliers’ sales, as made to institutions after a procurement contract has been signed. This means your institution does not need to commit any outlay of funds up-front to put our frameworks to work.
In a nutshell, CPC's expertise in running tendering processes means we're a safe pair of hands. We can do the bulk of the leg work for you, letting you focus on those everyday tasks at your institution you most enjoy - and do best.
What fields and industries do CPC cover?
CPC's expansive selection of compliant purchasing frameworks covers everything from a new, 2024 Audio Visual Equipment and Installation Services agreement to our established Sustainable Fleet Solutions offering, with our in-house procurement experts continually assessing new frameworks we can introduce and add to our catalogue.
In 2024, CPC has brought a number of new and/or renewed frameworks to our 10,000+ registered members and there are various others in the pipeline as we move towards 2025, making your free-of-charge CPC membership a smart acquisition, opening new doors to launch successful purchasing projects and/or one-off procurement tasks.
In addition, CPC works in partnership with a range of specialist outside consortia to provide members with an even greater selection of framework options. At the time of writing, there were 87 accessible, spanning a wide variety of fields, industries and disciplines. These link-ups benefit from specific expertise, while broadening our CPC service.
What else comes as part of the package?
As a member of Crescent Purchasing Consortium, you can benefit from expert advice from our CPC procurement professionals, with guidance available even prior to engaging any of our purchasing frameworks. Our potentially invaluable, free-of-charge support offering includes the ability to connect with one of our Regional Procurement Advisor (RPA) team, with a dedicated RPA now designated to each geographic region of the United Kingdom.
CPC facilitates networking meetings, with Procurement Advisory Group (PAG) branches assembled in person and online to address issues of local concern, while sharing best practice and knowhow. Connected to this is our 'PAG Presents' initiative, where expert analysis of a particular topic will help provide members with relevant insight and information. In addition, CPC sends out a regular free Members' Newsletter, which has highlighted key issues in education and procurement, as well as spotlighting a variety of new, retendered and continuing frameworks.
How can you start the framework process?
To make use of one of our purchasing frameworks, you need to be a registered member of Crescent Purchasing Consortium. The good news is that membership is free of charge for UK-based education institutions, making it a risk-free proposition with the potential to drive high-value outcomes for your establishment. In 2024, CPC passed the milestone of 10,000 registered members, meaning more institutions than ever can access our frameworks and associated services. So why not join us? CPC's collaborative purchasing power can deliver real results for members.
Why should I choose you, CPC, specifically?
CPC offers a quite unique selling point in that, as a non-profit organisation and registered charity, we reinvest substantial sums into the education sector through a flagship Giving Back programme. Instead of our everyday work creating profits for shareholders, surplus funds generated through our frameworks, consultancy and other services are used for helpful purchases and worthy projects, in education settings around the UK. By engaging a CPC framework to steer your procurement, you are not only taking steps to attain compliance and value in your purchases, you are also playing a part in, quite literally, Giving Back. Now into its fifth year backing communities far and wide, the project’s current focus is on the underfunded SEND sector, as well as supporting wellbeing and helping address absenteeism. Overseen by a committed board of trustees, CPC’s Giving Back grants are social investments, driven by your investments, making each procurement a potential source of real added value.
How can I find out even more about CPC?
Currently in our milestone 25th year of supporting institutions, CPC aspires to be the sector’s chosen purchasing partner and serves as a one-stop shop for education procurement, with compliant frameworks at the heart of our service. As alluded to, a series of new/updated frameworks are in the pipeline for the next few months, with a new Utilities Supplies & Services agreement leading the way (check out next month’s newsletter for a feature). In the meantime, we encourage readers to peruse this website for user case studies, framework catalogue details and supplementary resources, while the social media savvy can connect with us via our X and LinkedIn platforms.