10 Downing Street: New Online Buying System for Public Sector

The Office of Government Commerce has established a new online purchasing system that will allow public sector bodies to buy products more cost effectively.

Called Purchase & Pay, the system is currently being operated for customers in the Department for Work and Pensions for the purchase of items such as stationery and forms. It will include a wider range of products and services in the future, including the payment of resulting invoices.

Purchase & Pay went live in DWP in early February, with over 80 per cent of stationery purchases now going through the new online system.

The Linux-based open source software (OSS) system is being run through the Government's own secure intranet to ensure the highest level of security. OSS is software whose source code is openly published and the decision to use this was based on its reliability and lower licensing costs.

The OGC will evaluate the new system as part of a wider strategy to allow all departments and agencies in the public sector to share information on suppliers and pricing.

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