More details have been released around the States decision to drop a local stationery supplier in favour of Amazon.
A Freedom of Information request confirmed that the States will save around £100,000 by spending up to £250,000 per year with the online giant, compared to the equivalent contract cost if it had stayed on island.
A spokesperson for Policy and Resources said (before the recent election) that the Amazon contract doesn’t have a set value and it’s anticipated that the stationery spend will grow, while saving the island money.
The spokesperson confirmed that the States had not reviewed its stationery procurement arrangements for around five years so it was decided last year that the time had come to look at this area more closely.
The tender team then realised that the States could save money, even after the economic benefit of spending money on-island with a local company was considered.
“In 2024, it was decided to undertake a sourcing process inviting local and off-island suppliers,” they explained.
“The scoring for this tender process was weighted to recognise the economic benefit of having on-island suppliers, however, following a competitive tender process with on-island and off-island suppliers, even with this local weighting, Amazon were successfully awarded a framework agreement to supply stationery. While it is disappointing that a local supplier was not able to win this business, the States has a responsibility to spend taxpayers’ money responsibly. It is expected that this new agreement could save the States up to £100,000 per annum based on anticipated purchase of stationery.”
P&R also confirmed that the States is not using Amazon to buy any food products, “and this will not change under the new contract”.