Cost saving ---------- purchases In 2011, CNRS continued to adapt its procurement policy to the needs of research. The objective was to simplify procedures and rationalize expenditures. 650 in 2011—a sum that justifies the implementation of anmillion euros: this is the amount of CNRS expenditures optimization policy. ‘Most of these expenses are incurred by labo- ratories for the acquisition of scientific material and equipment,’ says Vincent Goujon, DSFIM Director of Purchasing and Innovation. ‘Because laboratories need responsiveness and flexibility, they have been granted decision-making authority at the local level.’ Unit directors can thus make purchases up to €125,000 without going through a formal call for tenders. ‘Other budget items—large-scale scientific equipment, external missions, IT purchases—go through a national tender process that offers units faster, more legally secure, and often less expensive purchasing,’ he adds. Pooling orders Reducing expenses is another major concern. ‘We must buy better, i.e. at lower cost, without sacrificing quality,’ says Vincent Goujon. This is particularly true of general expenditures, with nationwide contracts designed to secure the most favorable financial conditions. This was the case for mobile phones in 2011. CNRS achieved 30% savings during the year by pooling orders with a single operator. Fur- Installation of a 3-tesla MRI machine thermore, agreements with the French Union of Public Purchasing in a new room. Groups provide economies of scale in office supplies, furniture, and catering. and administrative costs, by using payment cards for instance. In 2011, 20% of purchases below €2,000 euros were made with the Dematerializing and simplifying procedures ‘purchasing card’, held by 90% of laboratories. This percentage makes CNRS the leading European public institution. Another project CNRS has initiated a dematerialization process. With the exception of launched in 2011 was the creation of an online purchasing portal a few large items concerning supplies and research equipment, pur- for small scientific equipment. Referenced suppliers will propose chasing is done on a piecemeal basis: 96% of orders are for amounts attractive prices and competitive delivery times, while laboratories under €4,000. As CNRS cannot negotiate significant discounts on will place their orders directly online. This portal should become ope- such small amounts, the organization seeks to simplify procedures rational in early 2013, after being tested by two regional offices. Measuring performance ‘Sustainable’ purchases In September 2011, CNRS agreed with the --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- French government’s procurement office to CNRS signed the Sustainable Purchasing Charter for Research and Higher Education in 2008. prepare a performance report for its natio- On April 8, 2011 it took another step and signed the Sustainable Development Charter for Public nal purchasing contracts, in order to assess Entities. The organization is fully committed to improving practices by setting up a system for the effectiveness of these policies. ‘This is a orchestrating all its actions to maximize efficiency. The purchasing section foresees: novel initiative in the public sector. We feel • the gradual replacement of the organization’s existing vehicles with electric vehicles; it is essential for appraising the relevance of • a strong incentive to buy paper from sustainable forests; our policy and actions.’ • the insertion of a social clause in future contracts for office supplies. 76 A year at CNRS 2011
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