ProcServe to Play a Key Role in Delivering the Government’s New Approach to Procurement

27th July 2011, LONDON, UK - ProcServe, a leading provider of eProcurement solutions, is delighted that its technology has been chosen to help deliver the government's new procurement strategy. In particular, ProcServe will host the Government eMarketplace, making it easier for suppliers to do business with government, particularly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Government Procurement, the new central organisation which leads on purchasing across central government, is committed to save £3 billion annually by the end of March 2013. It plans to do this by leveraging the combined buying power of departments to secure better deals for the most commonly bought categories of goods and services. These deals will be made available to all government bodies via the Government eMarketplace, to be delivered by ProcServe.

Departments, Agencies and NDPBs will access the Government eMarketplace to search these central, best value contracts and make their purchases securely online. The user friendly interface means that all government purchasers can do their shopping quickly and easily, confident that they are consistently getting the best possible value for taxpayer's money.

The Dynamic Marketplace, also hosted by ProcServe, will allow organisations to register, receive and respond to requests for quotations. This will dramatically improve the government's ability to engage with large numbers of suppliers, including SMEs, and enable them to compete for more public contracts. The Dynamic Marketplace will be piloted over the next two months and, after the successful completion, will be launched across the rest of Central Government.

Jim Knox, Chief Executive of ProcServe, emphasised his company's close involvement with Cabinet Office and Government Procurement to develop a tailored solution that meets the different needs of all government bodies. 'Everyone is acutely aware of the need to get good value out of every penny that government spends. We are pleased to have a key role in delivering the government's new procurement strategy which could deliver huge benefits. We look forward to working with Government
Procurement, and other government bodies to improve the ways in which government does business with its suppliers, large or small."

Suppliers can visit https://register4ukgov.procserveonline.com for more information about the Government eMarketplace and how to register on the Dynamic Marketplace.

Media Contact:
Cora Byrne, ProcServe
T: +44(0)7889 996345
E: cora.byrne@procserve.com

Notes to Editors

• The Government eMarketplace technology is provided by ProcServe. 
• Cabinet Office Small and Medium sized Enterprises action plan 2011-12. For more information, please visit
  www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-action-plan-2011-12
• Crown Representative for SMEs - for more information, please visit www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/crown-representative-smes-stephen-allott  
• Government Procurement media announcement 
• Contracts Finder - this is the Central Government database hosting all opportunities and contract awards over £100,000. For more information, please visit www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/

About Government Procurement
Government Procurement, led from the Cabinet Office, will build on existing Government provided operations to deliver sustainable cost savings for Central Government departments, streamline current procurement processes and invest in Civil Service procurement staff.

A key element of Government Procurement is the centralisation of common goods and services spend. Centralised Procurement was mandated by Government in May 2010 The Government eMarketplace will allow Departments to access the centrally managed deals as they go live and transact with suppliers.

About ProcServe
ProcServe offers a cloud-based solution for businesses who wish to buy goods and services from their suppliers electronically, saving time and money. The solution overcomes a major barrier to electronic procurement, namely that buyers and suppliers use a wide range of separate back office systems that receive and process data in different formats. ProcServe's key offer is a ‘Procurement Hub' which enables buyers and suppliers to get connected and transact efficiently.

By connecting to the ProcServe Hub, buyers and suppliers automatically belong to the ProcServe Trading Network which provides the ability to join and share procurement information with similar organisations. ProcServe also provides some of the key marketplaces across the UK public sector including OPEN, xchangewales eTrading, xchangewales eTrading for Schools, Procurement for Housing eMarketplace and the National Police Procurement Hub. For more information, please visit www.procserve.com.