COI director of events says Buying Solutions portal ‘deprives the government’
Simon Hughes, director of events for the Central Office of Information (COI), which is closing at the end of next month, has said that new procurement portal Buying Solutions will mean agencies won’t get the service they are used to.
The portal, set up in December, allows government departments to access its roster of pre-approved public companies.
Hughes said: "The procurement set-up deprives the government of event expertise and tailored support.
“It will lead to a lack of informed decision-making and agencies won't get the service they are used to."
The COI stopped taking on new work from 14 December 2011, with customers wishing to access communication services after that date being directed towards the Buying Solutions site.