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.