WRITTEN ON February 23rd, 2006 BY Peter Fagan, Health Intl AND STORED IN Uncategorized

As a supplier to the NHS of a unique product we tend to avoid the tendering process. However in instances where we have looked to respond to a tender we have found the process to be almost impenetrable. Particularly restrictions placed on smaller companies or what appear to be restrictions such as having to state current turnover, number of staff, profitability and possibly 3 years audited accounts.

Obviously for small companies and start ups this is the Catch 22.

A company may have developed a product or service that would be “best fit” and value for money but if the company is not of a certain size or has not been trading for long enough they will be excluded from the process. I understand that a Pilot Project of some sort was initiated in Birmingham and possibly one of the London Boroughs to open up the procurement process to small businesses and that it was successful, surely a study of these pilots would help inform the debate.