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Schools require a large variety of suppliers to meet the needs of not only the academic side, but also infrastructure such as cleaning and plumbing. Often schools have an established supplier in each area, but good procurement practices indicate that what is needed is access to different suppliers providing the same service. Every so often it is a good idea to test the market and ensure that the school is getting value for money. To be designed and constructed, new school buildings require an architect, a construction company and a project manager. The question is where to find companies which are experienced in the schools market. To design a school building, the architect must understand the needs of the school and also gather suggestions from school staff. If the architect is experienced in designing school buildings, he/she will have more insight into what is required and thereby offer greater value. Construction companies and sub-contractors such as signage and painting subcontractors will be able to adhere to the requirements of the school if they have had the experience. Schools create special environment – children are often unpredictable in their behaviour, there is often the need for noise restrictions due to examinations or other classroom activities, and then there is the issue of interaction between contractors, students and teachers. Contractors who are experienced in this environment can foresee and meet the requirements of the school. The question is where do school managers and board members find a group of such contractors? While ‘googling’ will give you lots of results there is little or no indication of the suitability of the providers who appear in the search. It seems that the best solution for school managers is to seek the contractors from a pool who already have experience in this niche market. Here you would find a group of contractors who are experienced in the school sector – all the better if these providers are supported by one or more testimonials from other schools. It creates a level of confidence in those seeking the services. The advantages of finding a pool of suppliers are numerous. School staff can compare them against each other through the business descriptions to see which ones best suit the needs of a particular school. They can check with the authors of the testimonials for further clarification. Finding a group of providers quickly is a real advantage if you wish to tender a job. The most obvious and efficient source of such providers is a website geared to the schools market. Depending on the how the website is set up a school manager could issue the tender documents simultaneously to providers of his/her choice. The website offers numerous advantages in being available 24/7, and by being easily accessible. EISAU is a unique online community dedicated to providing services and fundraising for schools in Australia.
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