4.3.6 Allowing others to use your panel
Other entities can access your standing offer if you included wider access in the original approach to market documentation.
If the panel arrangement is loaded onto DS4P, access for all eligible entities is automatically available and the panel manager generally does not need to take further action. If not loaded onto DS4P, the panel manager will need to arrange access to documentation for each eligible entity wanting to use the standing offer arrangement.
If you receive a request from another entity to access your standing offer, you must:
• ensure the documentation issued to the market during panel establishment and deeds of standing offer allow that entity to access the panel
• ensure suppliers agree to the request (if required)
• check the procurements proposed by the joining entity are within the scope of the existing panel arrangement.
If you grant access, you will need to agree on the roles and responsibilities of each entity, including:
• how the added entity will access the panel
• how the panel will be administered with regard to payment and any reporting requirements
• how feedback to the suppliers will be managed.
In some cases, an entity added to a panel arrangement will need to:
• complete a 'Notice of Inclusion' with each supplier they intend to contract with (through an official order), so the overarching terms of the standing offer apply to them
• confirm their ability to contract using a standing offer through other documented means, such as a MoU.
| Notice of Inclusion When accessing a standing offer, you may need to sign a notice of inclusion (NOI) (sometimes called an instrument of acceptance) with the supplier so your entity is covered by the provisions of the deed of standing offer. Your entity will only need to do this once with each supplier's standing offer. If you are unsure whether your entity needs to do this, contact your central procurement area or the panel manager. If in doubt, sign a NOI for your procurement before you sign your official order to ensure you are covered by the terms of the specific deed of standing offer. |
