North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) member authorities and associate members will be able to purchase and contract hire vehicles and plant through a new partnership with The Procurement Partnership (TPPL).

This partnership, for an initial three years with an extension to six years subject to agreement, will give NEPO member authorities access to TPPL’s full range of compliant purchase and contract hire frameworks for vehicles and plant.

These frameworks are  also available for use by the wider public sector through NEPO’s free of charge associate membership scheme.

Councillor Veronica Dunn, chairman of the collaborative procurement sub-committee, said: "The commencement of the partnership agreement with TPPL will ensure that North East local authorities and wider NEPO Members can continue to achieve value for money when procuring fleet assets.

"I am confident that NEPO working with TPPL will not only continue to deliver public sector savings, but will also realise wider benefits by utilising the additional technical knowledge and upskilling the North East market via supplier training."