News
Easy access to cost effective transmission services
31 July 2010: Organisations will now be able to obtain cost effective transmission services though a simple and quick process, thanks to a new framework agreement by JANET(UK).
The new agreement enables organisations to purchase transmission services without the additional cost and time of undertaking their own European procurement exercises. Eligible users – JANET connected organisations, Regional Network Operators, members of the Purchasing Consortia and members of the Regional Broadband Consortia – can easily meet their own requirements with a chosen list of suppliers via a dedicated website, knowing that all due diligence has been performed and compliance with EU and UK procurement law is guaranteed.
Individual customers need to register through the JANET Service Desk but can then do their own purchasing, say for their own department, on behalf of their organisation. Users can select potential suppliers through an online interface that provides a list of suitable suppliers in their particular region of the UK, along with a list of technologies that each supplier can deliver. They can then choose just to buy from the preferred supplier for their lot or, because JANET(UK)'s analysis might not exactly match their own needs, they can re-open a mini-competition among all capable suppliers. A mini-competition is equivalent to a full tender process but much faster and less onerous, and the suppliers have already been assessed.
All suppliers were selected as part of a full European procurement by JANET(UK) to provide value-for-money services. All suppliers joining the framework do so free of charge, with JANET(UK) taking no commission from the buyer or supplier; this means any cost benefits are passed directly to the customer.
The framework runs for four years until 16 July 2014, and it is estimated that some £60-70m could be spent through this agreement in its lifetime.
A full list of suppliers can be viewed at the framework microsite. More companies will be added as they sign up to the framework.
'The range of suppliers provided within the framework gives users greater choice and competition, with increased opportunities to achieve value for money,' said Tim Kidd, Operations Director of JANET(UK).
