Technology is integral to operations at NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC).
As an NHS procurement organisation, NOE CPC connects the NHS and suppliers working together to innovate, rationalise and deliver value to the NHS. Finding the most suitable platforms and channels to enable effective collaboration is key to support its partners and customers across the public procurement system.
The NOE CPC vision is to deliver high quality and easily accessible procurement services to the NHS. Increasingly that means providing access to services online, using web-based systems and the provision of self-service tools.
The past 20 months have been an exceedingly challenging period for the NHS, and COVID has driven a rapid change in working practices and increased use of technology.
There has been an increased desire for NHS customers and suppliers to engage with NOE CPC online through use of technology. NOE CPC have invested more resource into developing their in-house digital toolkit and online systems to improve accessibility and usability for customers and to ensure their services continue to change and adapt to the changing landscape and demand.
The most recent and exciting development in the NOE CPC digital toolkit is the Quick Quote tool. A quick and easy tool to enable approved framework users to request pricing for all their services requirements from applicable framework suppliers.
This exciting new tool is currently available on the LINK3 IT Hardware and Services framework but will be rolled out across other frameworks within the portfolio in 2022. This further facilitates the supplier relationship with the NHS, supporting the engagement to deliver the best products and value to meet the requirement.
NOE CPC suppliers and customers have responded enthusiastically to the Quick Quote tool, its ease–of–use and accessibility. Supplier contact details are maintained by NOE CPC so there is zero maintenance required by the supplier.
Responses are received by email and are sent directly back to the customer so there is no need to login to a separate system to action quote requests.
Introducing the tool has increased opportunities to secure business and new customers as all suppliers on a given Lot are invited to bid and the format of the requests are consistent in the information they provide which reduces the need for clarifications with the customer.
Collaborating effectively with NHS customers and its supplier base has enabled NOE CPC to identify where to save, deliver value and innovate across the portfolio of frameworks.
The dedicated NOE CPC Technology (ICT) category presents a significant selection of free to access frameworks supporting customers to meet their own requirements within the technology field.
Managing the customer and supplier relationship offers enormous benefits as demonstrated by the EPR award for Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust utilising IT Enterprise Solutions, a framework offering an all-in-one solution. The full portfolio of Technology (ICT) frameworks are available here.
NOE CPC plan to continue to invest and develop solutions to transform the services they deliver and nurture their relationships with customers and suppliers. Their early adoption and outward view to the wider public procurement landscape ensures they remain at the forefront of available technologies to meet the needs of the community they serve. Find out more about NOE CPC here.
