FLEET MANAGEMENT
Stephen Anderson, emergency services national account manager for Mercedes-Benz vans, explains how to achieve the best in fleet procurement.
P
ost-CSR and NHS reform announcements, the healthcare
sector was put under huge budgetary constraints and pressure to reduce carbon emissions. Just what impact has that had on replacing white fleet vehicles and what should buyers focus on?
There are few sectors where the importance of fit-for-purpose vehicles is more relevant than in the emergency services. Those faced with procuring emergency fleet vehicles or conventional vans for indispensable services like clinical waste and laundry removal are all too aware of the need to balance effectiveness with cost. Some services, like the police, have come under fire for using premium car brands, but any seasoned procurer will know that buying fleet vehicles is a more complex equation than just comparing price lists.
Our experience at Mercedes-Benz has developed this premium brand into the number one choice for rapid response and emergency vehicles in the A&E ambulance market. Our vans have earned their stripes for consistency in outright performance, reliability, economy, safety, sustainability and our after-sales support network.
It’s the whole package that interests buy- ers, not just the initial price, and our ve- hicles deliver consistently in the most de-
manding of services. We know from talking to PCTs and ambulance fleet buyers that their top priorities are low whole life costs and vehicle availability, which factors in reliability and downtime through service, maintenance and repair.
Our robust diesel engines are renowned for their durability in all conditions, which is particularly important for ‘blue-light’ fleets operating around-the-clock. Both our Vito and Sprinter vans regularly top the table for whole life costs and residual values because of their long service intervals, competitive service contracts and comprehensive warranties.
Safety is another key performance indicator and all our vans are fitted with Adaptive ESP as standard. The Sprinter is the best equipped chassis on the market in terms of its standard active and passive features, and is available with a fully automatic gearbox, which means that the driver can keep both hands on the wheel.
Increasingly, sustainability has risen up the procurement agenda and there are both fuel savings and carbon reductions to be made on the Sprinter, with either ECO- Start or natural gas technology innovations. Vito has not been left behind and the new E-CELL, the first ever production medium sized electric van, is now being assembled
alongside conventional drive Vitos. Irrespective of whether the vehicle has to transport patients, bulk laundry or clinical supplies, we can either adapt factory-built vehicles with ramps, tail-lifts and so on, or partner one of our body builders to tailor a bespoke solution.
Since the Government Procurement Service introduced its new framework agreement, the time-consuming process of vehicle tenders for the NHS has certainly been simplified. Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd has been successful in becoming an awarded supplier to the Government Procurement Service within the Vehicle Purchase Framework Agreement RM859.
The new framework is mandated to all cen- tral government departments and can be utilised by any public sector organisation.
This means that all public bodies can enjoy very competitive vehicle discounts from us through a simple method of purchasing. We’re proud to be one of the awarded sup- pliers on this framework and discovering the benefits of operating Mercedes-Benz vans couldn’t be easier. To discuss your re- quirements, for front line operation, or for the “white fleet”, contact your local dealer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit
www.mbvans.co.uk
70 | national health executive Sep/Oct 11
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