Police urged to use single online procurement portal

Monday, 15th August 2011

All 43 police authorities in England and Wales will soon have access to an 'Amazon-style' online procurement process.
Lincolnshire Police is the first force to use the new National Police Procurement Hub. The hub, which has been developed by National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA), gives the police service the ability to select, purchase and pay for a range of approved goods and services online from 500 suppliers.

It will enable the Lincolnshire force to buy items such as IT, body armour, vehicles and a whole range of other goods and services.

IT procurement supplier ProcServe is providing the technology and all forces are expected to be using it by June 2012.

The Association of Chief Police Officers is backing the initiative saying it harnesses the buying power of the police service in order to lower costs, improve supplier relationships whilst realising greater efficiency in billing and processing transactions.

David Horne, the project's senior responsible officer, and former chair of ACPO's Procurement Portfolio, said that the hub would be phased in over six years and result in savings totalling up to £30 million.

Sue Moffatt, head of commercial and procurement at the NPIA, said: "The Hub complements existing procurement processes across the police service so forces do not need to invest in replacing current systems. It enhances existing processes and provides a simple online shopping system to access best value products and services."

Forces will start paying a subscription to use the hub at the start of the financial year 2012/2013.

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