Procurement Process

The procurement process is as a collective both to maximise our buying power and to ensure seamless delivery of devices to our learners. The Manaiakalani Procurement Committee (MPC) is able to negotiate the best price, directly with global manufacturers via their in-country managers. MPC negotiates price and conditions irrespective of who the reseller is and takes that price to the resellers for  inclusion and value add items to be added. MET has negotiated a service level agreement with PBtech is  our current preferred supplier. 

Procurement is a rigorous process

1. The Manaiakalani Procurement Committee (MPC), convened by Russell Burt, engages with vendors to identify candidate devices to meet student requirements 

2. Test devices are provided to the Procurement Committee and these are rigorously evaluated by teachers, students, hackers and consultants to identify the preferred device. Recommendations are based on functionality, robustness, usability, affordability, durability and best-value specifications.

3. Concurrently MPC requests the Manaiakalani schools provide estimates of numbers of devices for the following year. 

4. To get the best possible price, for the preferred student device, MPC negotiates with manufacturers on schools behalf.

5. When the device is finalised MPC will communicate back to schools confirming product, price and inclusions. 

6. Schools are asked to inform MET of the  number of devices required for the start of the following year. This enables us and our manufacturer  to secure  stock availability from Global production. 

7. From this point forward PBTech l helps by liaising directly with schools and the established schools’ contact point e.g Trust. PBTech handles the purchase, payment and delivery of devices.

Ordering takes place at the PB Tech Portal or directly through the regional contact.