Press Releases

Open Source Software To Drive Government Online Buying System

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has established a new online purchasing system, which will allow public sector bodies to buy products quicker, easier and more cost effectively.

Called Purchase & Pay, the LINUX based Open Sourced Software system is currently being operated by OGCbuying.solutions for customers in the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) for the purchase of printed forms, stationery and associated items, but is intended to eventually encompass a much wider range of goods and services. As part of the system's on-going development, a facility which allows not only the buying of goods and services, but also the payment of the resulting Invoices on-line, will be incorporated in coming months.

Welcoming the establishment of the Purchase & Pay system, Hugh Barrett, Chief Executive of OGCbuying.solutions, said:

"Our decision to use Open Source software was based on its proven reliability, portability and lower licensing costs. Overall it represented best value for money in this application".

OGC is providing and evaluating secure online access to the various framework agreements and electronic catalogues managed by OGC's commercial trading arm, OGCbuying.solutions. Framework agreements and electronic catalogues are the means through which central civil government and the wider public sector can access advantageous pricing arrangements on a wide variety of goods and services.

The Linux-based system is being run through the Government's own Government Secure Intranet (GSI) to ensure that the highest level of online security is available, thereby safeguarding both customer and suppliers' commercially confidential pricing information.

The experience gained from the evaluation of the new system will be taken into account as part of OGC's strategy to support the development of fully interoperable 'cross-government' e-procurement systems. The wider strategy will eventually allow all public sector departments and agencies to share information on suppliers and pricing.

Martin Sykes, Executive Director of OGC's e.Commerce Directorate and the man responsible for driving forward the Government's e.Procurement strategy said:

"This work will give us access to valuable experience in the operation of Open Source Software, whilst contributing to DWP's needs for improved efficiency and effectiveness."

David Smith, DWP Commercial Director, said of the system:

"DWP are pleased to work with OGC on this Government e.Trading system, which follows on from work started by the Department in 1997 to improve its e-enablement of the procurement function. The Department fully supports the wider Government aims to use modern electronic communication to modernise its business and sees this development as part of this wider commitment. We will continue to maintain the development of business efficiencies and are pleased to be a part of this OGC initiative."

Rebecca George, Director, UK Government Business, IBM UK said:

"By selecting Linux for Purchase and Pay, OGC is benefiting from the value for money that Open Source software can offer government IT projects. IBM is delighted to work with DWP and their partners on Purchase and Pay, helping OGC to deliver a critical application that is secure and scalable and has delivered tangible benefits from day one."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Purchase & Pay went live between DWP and OGCbuying.solutions on Monday 3^rd February 2003 and has now reached a 'steady state' with high user acceptance - over 80% of DWP stationery buying is already being handled via the new online system.

2. Under the arrangement with DWP, OGCbuying.solutions has provided the hardware platform, networks, and interfaces (e.g. access to the Government Secure Intranet (GSI), Internet, Web Servers, Routers, Firewalls etc.) to allow the system to operate.

3. All requirements for the system were sourced through existing OGCbuying.solutions framework agreements.

4. IBM, who supplied the Server hardware for the system, also acted as 'prime contractor' for Belmin, the SME supplier responsible for the implementation of EROS software, based on IBM's Informix U2 product, onto the Linux Open Source architecture. Cable & Wireless provided the network infrastructure and will support the hardware element of the new system.

5. Established in April 2000, the OGC was set up to act as a catalyst in procurement issues and to work with civil departments to achieve best value for money in their commercial activities. Responsible for civil central government procurement policy and best practice including Construction, Property Management, IT, the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), supplier relations including opening up government contracts to SMEs, e-commerce including the Government Procurement Card, the Gateway Review Process, OGCbuying.solutions, including the Government buying catalogues, G-Cat & S-Cat and developing strategic procurement partnerships with the private sector.

6. OGCbuying.solutions is an Executive Agency of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) in the Treasury. OGC was launched on 1 April 2000 as a result of a review of civil procurement in Central Government. Its aim is to achieve substantial value for money improvements in the Government's procurement budget. Since its launch, OGC has realigned the procurement services previously provided by The Buying Agency (TBA) and the Managed Services Division of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) to form a new structure to help it to achieve its objectives. This realignment has brought about the introduction of a larger more cohesive and customer-focused organisation that includes a new trading arm called OGCbuying.solutions, which was launched on 1 April 2001.

7. Press enquiries to Martin Day on 020 7271 1318 or via e-mail on Martin.day@ogc.gsi.gov.uk