Purchasing Options
Government Procurement Service and software owners do not specify how licences should be purchased.
The options to inform that decision are:
- Direct approach to the software owners
- Purchase through a 3rd party partner (e.g. an outsourcer)
- Full competitive procurement
- Purchase via a pre-competed arrangement (e.g. the Commoditised IT Hardware and Software Framework Agreement)
- A direct approach to a single Reseller of that software
Supplier sales and account staff should be aware of the agreements and should reflect the pricing and terms of the particular MoU/BLA in any proposal to qualifying organisations.
With regard to the purchase of Adobe licences the pricing offered via the Adobe BLA with Government Procurement Service can only be accessed via the framework agreements.
Using Pre-existing Frameworks
The simplest approach to software sourcing is for organisations to utilise a pre-existing framework through which they can purchase. Government Procurement Service offers a series of framework agreements; the most relevant of which is Software Application Solutions.
The benefits of using the framework agreement are:
- Compliance with EU procurement legislation
- Ease of ordering
- Speed - the ability to call off requirements quickly.
Customers will need to choose the most appropriate lot for their requirement.
Further Information
If you require further information please telephone our Customer Service Desk on 0345 410 2222 or email info@gps.gsi.gov.uk.
Note: Public sector bodies need to choose an appropriate route to purchase that complies with legal, regulatory and local procurement policies. If Government Procurement Service' framework agreements are being used, then we will be able to advise on how to procure under the framework agreement and the terms of the software agreement. If Government Procurement Service framework agreements are not being used we will only be able to advise on the latter.