July 08, 2011

The Higher Education and Further Education sectors are now fully engaged implementing GeM which includes a new contracts database to replace CuPID. The GeM contracts database is linked to an e-marketplace that is primarily aimed for those institutions who do not have their own e-marketplace. GeM is scheduled to Go Live in August and updates can be found at www.gem.ac.uk.

Those of you who actively use the existing contracts database (CuPID) will see your data transferred to the new contracts database within GeM , with better and easier access. For institutions who want to control access to a limited range of contracts, then they will be able to apply their own access profiles. Additionally, local contracts can be added by individual institutions.

GeM e-marketplace has been designed primarily for smaller institutions and for those institutions who do not wish to invest in their own e-marketplace. Some institutions with their own e-marketplace may also wish to use GeM alongside their primary marketplace to purchase specific commodities such as food or travel. GeM is free to use and will typically have all the suppliers and goods that are currently available via regional purchasing consortia agreements, the difference being the purchaser can click and buy, much as they can with Amazon. The buyer can browse to see what is available and then buy using a corporate credit card (pcard/GPC). A wide range of categories will be covered including stationery, computer consumables, janitorial supplies and so on. You can also be assured that all the contracts on the GeM will have been negotiated and approved specifically for the sector.

• GeM will bring you a faster and lower cost way to buy goods and services for your institution.

We are planning to go live in August, all contract information that is currently on CuPID will be on the new contracts database and initially we anticipate only a specific range of supply contracts will be available to buy from. We are working hard to actively engage with our suppliers to adopt them onto the GeM e-marketplace. If you keep an eye on www.gem.ac.uk you will learn what is happening and when. You should also direct your [contracted] suppliers to this web site to see how they can get onto the GeM e-marketplace. There is no charge for suppliers to participate.

Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please direct them to Paddy Walker, the Programme Manager at paddy.walker@hefce.ac.uk.