15. Purchasing Schemes

15.1

A Responsible Officer may use Purchasing Schemes subject to the following conditions and the Council’s Purchasing Guide.

15.2

Responsible Officers must check in advance that:

15.2.1	The Council is legally entitled to use the Purchasing Scheme
15.2.2	The purchases to be made do properly fall within the coverage of the Purchasing Scheme
15.2.3	The establishment and operation of each Purchasing Scheme is in compliance with the EU Rules (where they apply) and meets the Council's own requirements.

15.3

A “Purchasing Scheme” may include:

15.3.1	Contractor prequalification lists/select lists
15.3.2	Framework arrangements (including those set up by the Government Procurement Service, Central Buying Consortium, Kent Commercial Services
15.3.3	Purchasing arrangements set up by central purchasing bodies and commercial organisations
15.3.4	Consortium purchasing
15.3.5	Collaborative working arrangements
15.3.6	Formal agency arrangements
15.3.7	E-procurement/purchasing schemes and methods
15.3.8	Other similar arrangements such as the IDeA Marketplace

15.4

Where a Purchasing Scheme is used then there shall be a whole or partial exemption from the obligations under these Contract Standing Orders in respect of the choice and conduct of procedures to the extent permitted and indicated in the Council’s Purchasing Guide.

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