Schools get new route to cheaper software shopping

Twelve hungry vendors

Schools now have a new way of getting their hands on cheaper software.

OGCbuying.solutions, the government's procurement arm, and Becta, its technology strategy agency, have agreed a new deal for schools and other educational institutions' software shopping.

The agreement will mean schools can browse suppliers' framework agreements or ask for a quote online in a dedicated area of the OGCbuying.solutions' site.

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Under the deal, schools will be able to choose from 12 software vendors - both proprietary and open source - for operating systems; office productivity software; network and security programs; as well as ERP and other software.

Academia, Civica Services, European Electronique, Insight Direct, Joskos Solutions, Pugh Computers, Ramesys ( e-business services), RM plc, SCC, Sirius Corporation, Trustmarque Solutions and Viglen all made the supplier shortlist.

As well as software, schools will also be able to get services including purchasing advice, software sourcing, technical support, training and licence management through the site.

The Becta-OGCbuying.solutions deal replaces an initial framework agreement for software buying that saw £25.9m of savings made during its three-and-a-half-year lifespan.