Joining and ​using the office supplies contract

Joining and using this contract

• 1

  Determine your requirements

  You need to consider what's most important to your agency to help you shortlist suppliers, like:

  • product attributes 
  • product categories
  • product range
  • lowest prices
  • high service levels
  • administrative simplicity 
  • capability to interface with an agency’s Financial Management Information System (FMIS)
  • geographical reach
  • regional presence.

  You may need to review your agency’s purchasing behaviour, eg whether different units buy independently from the same supplier. Talking with others in your agency can also help you work out if there are any special requirements and which categories are relevant to your agency, eg unique delivery requirements.

• 2

  Review the categories

  You'll need to choose a supplier for the low waste key office supplies category, and one for each optional category you're using. You can choose different suppliers for each category, or use the same supplier across multiple categories.

  For schools interested in joining this contract, it is not mandatory for you to choose a supplier for the low waste key office supplies category.

  What's covered

• 3

  Choose a supplier

  You can select one supplier for each of the categories you want to participate in based on any criteria, but you should follow a robust process that ensures you get the best value out of the contract.

  • Review the supplier profiles for information on each supplier’s type of business, environmental policies, value-add services, and any other information that's important to your agency.
  • Define your commonly purchased products by using the product and volume template. Once you know your top products, enter the volumes into one of the pricing comparison calculators.
  • We suggest that you talk to at least two shortlisted panel suppliers before making a final selection. It's good to get to know your likely contract manager and to discuss your requirements and how they propose to work with you before you make a decision.

  Product and volume template

  View the list of suppliers for the office supplies contract.

  Office supplies suppliers

• 4

  Read the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

  Each AoG contract has a related MoU. This sets out the relationship between us and the agencies participating in the contract. It also highlights the obligations of each party and the key points in the contract.

  Each contract has a copy of the MoU listed in the ‘Contract documents’ section - you’ll need to be logged in to see it.

  Contract documents

• 5

  Complete the Form of Accession (FoA)

  By signing the FoA, your agency is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the MoU. On the FoA you will enter the suppliers and product categories you wish to participate in.

  Joining this contract

  End of process