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WA Products (UK) becomes the 100th supplier to provide a catalogue on the National Police Procurement Hub
The NPIA’s “Amazon-Style” online procurement system enables police forces in England and Wales to buy specified goods and services online. WA Products (UK) has become the 100th supplier to provide a catalogue on the National Police Procurement Hub.
The National Police Procurement Hub (NPPH) is an electronic marketplace that provides the police service with the ability to select and purchase a range of approved goods and services online such as IT, body armour and vehicles from 500 suppliers.
It’s estimated to save the police service £69 million over the next six years by streamlining the procurement process and removing the need for printing and paper.
To date, £1.8 million pounds worth of transactions have been completed through the Hub, 1,500 orders have been placed and 146 invoices have been returned.
Eleven forces are using the Hub and a further 32 are working towards being connected by the end of the autumn. All forces are expected to be using the Hub by spring 2013.
Benefits include:
- high quality, real-time management information enabling analysis of spend across the wider police service
- reduction in the reliance on manual, paper based processing, minimising human error and protecting against procurement fraud
- a saving of at least £13 to £41 per transaction as reported by the National Audit Office
- greater visibility and control over what is being spent, ensuring that forces are buying goods and services consistently and at the best possible price
Ian Currie, Head of Commercial at the NPIA, said “It’s great to see this hugely beneficial service go from strength to strength. The police service is committed to delivering significant savings from better procurement. Therefore, it is absolutely vital that those charged with buying goods and services have fast and direct access to this electronic market place. The Hub enhances existing processes and provides a simple online shopping system to access best value products and services.”
David Horne, the project’s Senior Responsible Owner, and former Chair of ACPO’s Procurement Portfolio said “In these financially challenging times it is essential that we take every opportunity to maintain services whilst reducing costs. We are therefore delighted that the Hub has been so well received by forces and suppliers.
Mike Hopson, Managing Director, WA Products said:“We fully endorse the NPPH and are currently aiming to become a Gold Standard Accredited Supplier with them. We are very positive about the future of the Hub and see it as a major step forward in procurement across the police service. It will, I am sure, ultimately help us to increase our business and make dealing with us easier for the customer.”
The NPPH project forms part of the Information Systems Improvement Strategy (ISIS),a programme for the police service that is using IT to improve efficiency. This will release savings and deliver operational improvements across policing and into the wider criminal justice system.
