UK

A new purchasing contract to help Scottish councils buy and repair commercial laundry equipment has been launched by Scotland’s Centre of Procurement Expertise for Local Government. The new laundry equipment framework is expected to be worth £1.1m a year.

Scotland Excel’s commercial laundry equipment framework is now live and is split into supply and delivery (including installation and commissioning) of commercial laundry equipment; and repairs and maintenance of commercial laundry equipment.

Three suppliers have been awarded places on the Commercial Laundry Equipment framework. They are JLA and MAG Equipment, both West Yorkshire and Thain Commercial of Lanarkshire.

The commercial laundry equipment framework marks the start of the organisation’s roll out of new lower value contracts. Eleven will be introduced between now and the end of the financial year.

Councillor John Shaw, convener of Scotland Excel said: “I’m delighted the first of our smaller value contracts have been launched. This is a unique approach for Scotland Excel and will not only bring real value and efficiencies for councils, but will also bring opportunities for businesses. When establishing the smaller value portfolio, we carefully assessed more than 40 areas of opportunity, looking at which had the highest council spend. We then asked councils what they would like to see launched. I’m pleased that as a result, 11 new national frameworks will be put in place where suppliers are ready to do business with councils.”

Julie Welsh, director of Scotland Excel added: “We look forward to rolling out contracts that cover a wide range of goods and services – including our new commercial laundry equipment framework. Previously councils have been independently negotiating with suppliers at local level for these, but now, these new national frameworks can bring savings by securing more competitive prices.”