Cambridge Education was contracted as the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) consultant for the new academy, the third stage of which focused on procurement.

Cambridge Education was responsible for managing the procurement process for Merchants Academy, from getting an ICT supplier on board to the installation and sign off of kit. The ICT consultancy team prepared a procurement strategy and schedule, developed tendering instructions, evaluated proposals and negotiated contracts.

The ICT procurement process was conducted through the BECTA (the government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning.)ICT Infrastructure Services Framework. This involved the management of the whole competition process from the issue of the procurement BECTA notice to the contract award. The decision to use the framework route was taken in consultation with the sponsors, the new academy leadership team and BECTA itself.

Throughout the procurement process, Cambridge Education worked closely with the project and design teams, Educational Consultants and the Principal Designate, to develop procurement documentation that ensured the Academy’s ICT vision and functional specifications were embedded in the tender documents.

Early establishment of a project board was key to the success of the procurement process. Representatives were selected from the Academy, the sponsor and overall project managers to ensure that all stakeholders were appropriately engaged, and to approve and ratify decisions with oversight from BECTA representatives.

The procurement process included a number of activities and deliverables to ensure a fair, open and competitive procurement in line with European Union procurement law and BECTA guidelines. This included a ‘Bidders Day’, which proved very successful in engaging with suppliers and helped to ensure a range of comprehensive and competitive tender responses.

The Academy’s ICT contract is on target to be completed on time and to budget. Throughout the procurement process, Cambridge Education ensured the solutions offered by tenderers were in line with the vision and functionality outlined earlier in the consultancy process, this aligns with our V-procurement methodology.

Cambridge Education added value:

Expertise of procurement process from strategy to contract negotiation
Objective view points
Timely completion of a project