Supplier had won an equivalent contract in 2019 and was the only bidder for the new version

The Scottish Government has awarded HP a new contract worth up to £75m over four years to provide desktop computers to Scotland’s public sector. The hardware supplier won an equivalent contract in 2019 and was the only bidder for the new version. 

The Desktop Client Devices Framework covers desktop devices, monitors, fixed workstations, accessories and deployment services across the Scottish Government, as well as NHS health boards, local government, universities and colleges, police, fire and rescue and other public sector bodies in Scotland. It is also open to registered charities and voluntary sector organisations. 

The equivalent contract advertised in 2019, also for up to four years, was valued at a higher level of £90m. It attracted five bidders.  

In a buyer’s guide published in 2022, the Scottish Government’s procurement and property directorate said the use of the framework provides users with significantly lower than market prices that are fixed for the duration of the framework. It also offers minimum specifications incorporating the latest energy efficiency and environmental accreditations and is available to organisations regardless of size or geographical location. 

Organisations using the previous framework have been able to tailor the hardware they order through upgrades or downgrades, as well as extra services such as the loading of standard data images, asset tagging, onsite installation, removal and recycling, with the last including an option to donate old equipment to charities after secure data wiping. 

The contract required bidders to show evidence of community benefits in Scotland. The 2022 buyer’s guide said that HP has supported social initiatives, including the Prince’s Trust Achieve Club Glasgow and programmes run by the supplier to support entrepreneurial work in local schools and communities and provide training and employment for unemployed ex-service personnel in recycling.