Scottish Government Procurement update

Frameworks for desktop and laptop devices

HP Inc. advise that the current average lead time for new orders for laptop devices is typically eight to ten weeks. The lead time for desktop devices is four to six weeks.

The Scottish public sector is a platinum level customer of HP, and Scottish Procurement framework orders are prioritised for manufacture and shipment. Despite these benefits, customers should consider the following actions to mitigate any potential risks:

• Orders should be placed as early as possible especially for end of year spend and critical projects.
• Customers should engage with their HP account manager and share plans and requirements as early as possible. Account managers will provide updated lead time information and outline options to reduce these where possible.
• Bonded storage: utilise the up to six months free stocking via Capito, HP’s service partner. This is an exclusive service offered by HP to Scottish Procurement Framework customers.  Warranty entitlement and invoicing will commence at point of shipment from the Capito warehouse facility.
• Explore desktop monitor combinations where possible, as availability is significantly better for these categories of product.

Framework for web-based and proprietary devices

Global demand for Chromebooks and iPads is currently measured in tens of millions of devices. Customers are encouraged to engage with their XMA account manager as soon as possible to discuss any future plans for the purchase and deployment of Chromebooks and iPads in 2021.

Chromebooks: XMA report that global demand is still growing and large volume orders are likely to be fulfilled in months rather than weeks. Customers are encouraged to place orders as soon as possible and discuss deployment plans for 2021 with their account manager at the earliest opportunity.

iPads: Apple has been prioritising the supply of iPads into education throughout the pandemic. The transition to the new 8th Gen iPad 10.2 has placed further pressure on the supply chain, however, the positon is expected to recover early 2021.

Customers are also encouraged to make use of up to six months free of charge bonded storage. Orders will be invoiced and held in a secure location until such time as the goods are required to be delivered. This allows larger deployments to be delivered in manageable volumes and timescales, and to multiple delivery sites. Further information on this service is available from XMA’s framework account managers.