PC suppliers set sights on tender system

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

Local PC assemblers believe they will benefit from a Government proposal to put all large public sector purchases out to tender through the Industrial Supplies Office.

Under the proposed guidelines the NZISO, a branch of the Ministry of Economic Development, would administer tenders for all Government purchases valued at more than $25,000 through its Government electronic tenders service (GETS).

NZISO general manager Bob Murdoch said the final draft of the proposal would be delivered to ministers this week.

"There's some hope the situation will be clarified before Christmas," he said. "It looks positive that we will have the job."

Mr Murdoch said Government purchasers were already required to give a "fair and equal" opportunity to local suppliers but sometimes these opportunities were not publicly advertised.

He believed the new guidelines would give local suppliers a better opportunity to tender as the requirements of Government departments would be posted on the GETS site at www.nziso.govt.nz.

Mike Cooch, chairman of the Computer Manufacturers Association and managing director of Albany-based PC assembler Samcor, welcomed the proposals, despite reports that his organisation had lobbied for a lower $10,000 threshold last July.

"We think a $25k threshold is reasonable. Having to go to tender for a $10k purchase would drive everyone mad."

Mr Cooch hoped that tendering would jolt many public sector PC purchasers out of simply re-ordering equipment they had bought previously.

"Now competitive suppliers, be they [overseas] brands or local assemblers, will be able to get in on the quoting.

"We expect the Government will be looking for cost savings. Therefore it's highly likely that local assemblers will get better access to Government purchasing contracts."