Our Dynamic Purchasing Systems for Catering and Cleaning are approved by the Department for Education
Education Buying is pleased to announce its Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) for catering and cleaning services in schools have been approved by the Department for Education (DfE). This innovative and compliant procurement solution aims to streamline and enhance the purchasing process, ensuring high-quality services are accessible to educational institutions across the country.
Education Buying has emerged as a pioneering force, leading the charge in meeting the escalating demand for efficient and cost-effective solutions within the education sector. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Education Buying is delivering tailor-made solutions to schools, multi-academy trusts, colleges, and universities. By meticulously developing their DPSs that cater to the unique requirements of educational institutions, Education Buying has earned the endorsement of the DfE.
The Catering and Cleaning DPSs offer a PCR15-compliant pathway to the market through an easy and supported Further Competition process. It allows educational establishments to access fully managed, outsourced solutions with pre-vetted suppliers, ensuring a faster award process. The DPSs are designed for schools and provide flexibility to respond to market changes.
The DPSs have been divided into geographical areas (known as ‘Lots’), enabling both national and local suppliers to offer their services. Catering services encompass a wide range of offerings, including innovative and healthy menu development, menu substitutions/variations, free school meals, dietary requirements, packed lunches, and more.
In addition to catering services, the DPS for cleaning services offers a comprehensive range of options, such as term-time cleaning, non-term-time cleaning, deep/periodic cleaning, one-off cleaning, high-level cleaning, window cleaning, washroom consumables provision, waste management/cleaning, and more. Educational institutions can access pre-qualified cleaning suppliers through the dynamic purchasing system, ensuring compliance with procurement regulations and the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
One of the primary advantages of a DPS is that suppliers can request to join at any time, giving educational establishments the opportunity to run a competitive process and obtain a value-for-money contract while also being able to nominate their incumbent or local supplier to participate. The benefits of Education Buying’s DPSs extend beyond simplicity and flexibility. The system provides readymade, further competition procurement documents with step-by-step instructions, saving valuable time for schools.
Additionally, Education Buying checks all further competition documents before publishing them on the e-procurement portal, ensuring accuracy, compliance and giving schools peace of mind. Social value is also considered as part of the assessed award criteria, allowing suppliers to propose outcomes that benefit the school and the wider community. So much so that last year, the Catering DPS was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Wales Government Opportunities Awards for Social Value Procurement outcomes. Additionally, sourcing local suppliers can be beneficial to the environment, as they use less transportation and consequently cause less carbon emissions.
“We are delighted to announce the availability of DfE-approved dynamic purchasing systems for catering and cleaning services,” said Nathan Swinney, Head of Procurement at Education Buying. “These systems offer a modern and transparent approach to procurement, allowing schools to access a wide range of suppliers, manage risks, rising costs and secure the best services that align with their specific requirements and social value aspirations.”
The DPSs provide numerous benefits to schools and suppliers alike. Educational institutions can access a diverse pool of pre-qualified suppliers, ensuring compliance with procurement regulations, ease of use, value for money and a range of service options. Suppliers, on the other hand, have the opportunity to showcase their expertise and offerings to a wider customer base, facilitating growth and collaboration in the education sector.
The DfE´s approval of these DPSs signifies Education Buying’s commitment to enhancing the procurement landscape for the education sector. Allowing educational institutions to focus on delivering excellent educational experiences while obtaining cost-effective and high-quality support services.
For more information about Education Buying’s Department for Education-approved dynamic purchasing systems for catering and cleaning services, please visit Catering – Education Buying or Cleaning – Education Buying.
