As previously stated QAG criteria have suggested assessors supply 2 quotes.
After 1st November DOs and LEas would be entitled to demand this of the
assessor if they are working through a registered centre.
As the new system is supposed to provide a nationally consistent set of
standards it would be appropriate for the assessor to only supply the agreed number
of quotes. If 2 is decided on as adequate for comparison I would suggest that
LEAs currently requiring 3 be encouraged to accept 2. If pressure for more
quotes comes from auditors it would be appropriate to charge for the 3rd quote.
This extra cost is likely to discourage auditors from insisting on this extra
quote.
I have found that the quotes from suppliers all vary in format and response
times. Specs often differ - some suppliers include warranties and monitors in
the PC price others list them separately, some substitute what they consider
equivalent items (different models of tape recorders etc). Even the on-line web
based systems are all different and some are less than easy to negotiate and
do not contain all the options one might want.
These do add to the time taken to obtain quotes. It is good that suppliers
offer products with particular features or extra services like insurance and as
an individual purchaser or as an assessor making decisions one might decide on
a supplier for these reasons. However, LEAs will look mainly at price and
possibly previous experience of a supplier. I don't believe that they consider
these extra services.
If you get quotes sent to you because the supplier does not offer an on-line
system or because not all products are on-line, you can expect to receive them
in a variety of formats - text or HTML emails, word documents, speadsheets,
pdf files, faxes and old fashioned letters.
Getting 3 quotes, then, is not simply a matter of click, click, click.
A nationally agreed number of quotes is justifiable and I believe that in
these circumstances it would be reasonable to charge for the additional work of
supplying a third quote. Given all the factors an extra half hour's charge is
probably reasonable.
Mick Trott
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