Probrand awarded government framework agreement
Buying Solutions, the national procurement partner for UK public services, has awarded IT reseller Probrand a place on the Commoditised IT Hardware and Software framework agreement to supply Desktop Hardware (Lot1) to the public sector.
The news confirms Probrand's official status as supplier to the public sector on this IT procurement framework and builds on an existing four year relationship built under Buying Solutions' IT Goods and Associated Services framework agreement.
The Birmingham business underwent a rigorous tender process to win a place on the framework and is one of only 12 suppliers under Lot 1 who made the grade.
Probrand has been leading the way in offering its customers Best Practice Best Value IT procurement practices that save time and money when looking to buy value for money IT. As a result, the business recently collected a Chartered Institute of Purchase & Supply (CIPS) accreditation in recognition of its excellence in procurement processes.
This global recognition of quality and standards has continued to switch both public and private sector IT buyers on to Probrand and its unique online IT procurement channel www.theITindex.co.uk which is the only e-procurement solution to have been accredited by The Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW).
www.theITindex.co.uk gives IT purchasers access to over 160,000 products each with more than three supplier quotes from 1,200 trade vendors. Each product is listed with a supplier hierarchy based on best price and stock availability. It makes the task of buying IT easier by eliminating the need to call multiple suppliers to check stock and 'barter' on price, so saving time and money.
This consolidated approach to IT procurement also provides a more sustainable mechanism for buyers to select 'green' IT with the solution highlighting comparable green product credentials, so buyers no longer need to conduct further product research before purchase.
Combined with its central budget control, spend authorisation, price tracking and forecasting functionality, over 5,000 public sector organisations are already using this highly acclaimed solution.
Probrand Managing Director, Peter Robbins, said: "We have affirmed our place as a major player in the IT market and the award of a Buying Solutions framework agreement for a second time adds to our credentials, alongside our CIPS and ICAEW awards.
"This is the largest UK tender of its type and it will strengthen our robust financial position, having grown five fold (£11M at the close of 2004, to £57M at the close of 2009) in the last five years against a flat IT sector and amid testing economic conditions. Our team has been congratulated on the success and we are buoyed by future prospects."
Proband featured in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100, which ranked the fastest-growing private technology companies in Britain by their sales growth over a three-year period.
(03/2010)