Peep peep! All aboard the £300m UK education IT procurement express

The clock is ticking for tech suppliers wanting to grab a seat on the soon-to-be refreshed UK "ICT Services for Education" framework gravy train, estimated to be worth up to £300m over four years. A contract notice was placed by Crown Commercial Services on the Official Journal of the European Union at the weekend, indicating …

[Anonymous Coward]

Why do these places never just specify that the maximum price we will pay for equipment with a specification of "$spec" is "£ $amount" and then just let normal competition push the price down?

I happen to know for a fact that I order in stationary and equipment cheaper than the government. All I did was sit down with an account manager for a stationary company and negotiated better prices based on the quantities that I was going to order. WHY CAN'T THE GOVERNMENT MANAGE THAT?!

[AngryBob]

You have an account manager at a stationary company? You're over paying. I happen to know for a fact I can get cheaper prices than you by just buying off the internet - no minimum quantities, no contracts, no loyalty required...

[Anonymous Coward]

Except that we get prices cheaper than on the internet, and significantly lower than the RRP for the items.

Hence the point of having an account manager.

[Tim Soldiers]

Please share with us then, oh great negotiator, that we may all benefit from you expertise

Prices of you top 10 items

+ 127x76 Post-Its and a CE410x HP ( OEM only mid !!) Toner

including inc Vat & Delivery also with website ordering & consolidated monthly invoice

Yours.......a humble government no-nothing buyer

[Anonymous Coward]

Because they have to be seen to be obtaining value-for-money, no matter what it costs to do so.