We know that choosing an MIS can be a daunting enough process, so carrying out a procurement, particularly if it’s your first time, can seem particularly challenging. That’s why we felt this brief introduction to MIS procurement could prove useful: it’ll cover how to choose the right procurement route for your establishment, the benefits of using a framework, as well as our top tips for an effective procurement for schools.
How to choose a procurement route
When you run an MIS procurement, you have several different routes to choose from including using a framework agreement, getting three or more quotes from suppliers, and running your own compliant buying process.
Which route you follow will depend on the value of the contract and your school’s procurement rules which can get from your school or local authority. You can learn more about the different routes and determine which one’s right for you here.
The benefits of using a framework
While you can run a procurement process yourself or hire a consultant to do it for you, using a framework has many benefits. Running it yourself can be challenging as you need to make sure you carry out the entire process in a compliant way which can take up a considerable amount of your time and resources. As for hiring a consultant, they can also be costly.
Frameworks on the other hand, are designed to make the procurement process efficient, cost-effective, and compliant with regulations.
They are structured and standardised, making it easy and quick to find and engage with suppliers, and they usually come with pre-negotiated terms and conditions as well as standardised documentation, too. Frameworks often come with plenty of free resources so you can be confident your procurement process will be compliant as well. Plus, they give you access to only pre-vetted suppliers with competitive pricing to guarantee you find the best MIS for your establishment’s needs.
Bromcom is currently available on the following frameworks – click here to learn more:
- Kent Framework
- Telford and Wreckin
- Hackney
- Herts for Learning
- CCS G-Cloud
- Everything ICT
- NYES Digital
- Digital Outcomes 6
- Procurement Services
- North Yorkshire
- Value Match
- 2buy2
5 tips for effective MIS procurement
Pre-procurement, think strategically about what the aim of the procurement is and how it aligns with your internal visions and values.
Undertake a SWOT analysis of your current MIS and third-party apps that interact with it. Understand what workflows, policies, and procedures you have in place now that you’are not prepared to change.
Do your due diligence in advance – research the market and speak to other schools. Can the suppliers meet your non-negotiables mentioned above?
Put together a team of people who will work on the procurement and set aside enough time to not only conduct it but manage the change, allow for training, and the actual migration to a new system.
Communicate with your staff and help them to understand what’s in it for them. Find your MIS champions and get them onside and then use them to sing the virtues of the new system – buy in is key to success.
Want to learn more about MIS procurement?
You can find out more about finding the right framework for you and how to buy through a framework here on the Bromcom website. You can find government guidance for buying goods and services as a school here.
If you’re ready to find out more about Bromcom and our range of solutions including our MIS, finance system, and central data hub solution as well as how they could benefit your establishment, book a discovery call with our team.
