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By Natasha Lomas, 2 January 2008 16:47

NEWS

The government has set up a bulk-buying framework agreement with key telecoms and networking suppliers aimed at securing discounts for central and local public sector bodies on contracts worth a total of £500m.

OGC.buying solutions, the executive agency of the Office of Government Commerce which is responsible for maximising the purchasing clout of the taxpayer's pound, has added to its existing family of framework agreements with the new Telecoms Network Framework (TNF).

The new TNF agreement, which will go live on 8 January, lists 37 telecoms suppliers across 12 categories which have agreed special purchasing terms and conditions with OGCbuying.solutions.

Government customers opting to buy goods or services through companies on the list can expect to save time and money as the process is more efficient than carrying out a full tender.

The 12 categories covered by the TNF include voice calls and lines, dark fibre, wireless data infrastructure, networking equipment and ISP services. Listed suppliers include Avaya, BT, Cable & Wireless, Computacenter, Easynet, Siemens, Telewest and Verizon Business.

BT is the sole supplier to be awarded a framework agreement across all 12 categories, according to an OGCbuying.solutions spokeswomen.

Mark Quartermaine, managing director of BT Government Services said in a statement: "It also benefits our customers, who will be able to select BT products and services from an online catalogue where the value for money credentials of the portfolio can be identified."

The total business value to successful suppliers has been estimated at approximately £500m over the next four years.

Back in June, a Public Accounts Committee report criticised OGCbuying.solutions for not achieving better savings. In the report the executive agency admitted it doesn't have the commercial expertise to negotiate consistently good deals with suppliers.

The full list of TNF suppliers can be found here.