Guidance

ePCS explanatory notes

Published 15 April 2013

© Crown copyright 2013

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-government-procurement-card-monthly-payments-explanatory-notes/epurchasing-card-solution-formerly-called-government-procurement-card

Information on the procedures and administration of the electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

1. Background information

The ePCS is a purchasing card, not a credit card.

The ePCS used to be known as the Government Procurement Card (GPC).

ePCS is an efficient solution specifically for low risk, low value purchases. It enables government departments to buy from particular suppliers, including small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s).

2. ePCS key benefits

The benefits of ePCS include:

  • access to data to help monitor spend and budgets more effectively
  • a reduction in the number of invoices – card transactions are consolidated and paid centrally, with no risk of interest charges
  • saves money and delivers efficient processes
  • electronic cardholder statements – this supports sustainability by reducing paper and resultant waste.

The benefits to SME’s include:

  • prompt payment of invoices in line with government initiatives
  • improved cash flow
  • a reduction in bad debt and late payments
  • reduced administrative costs

3. ePCS and transparency

DWP publishes details of all ePCS transactions of £500 and over.

The data is published monthly, 2 months in arrears.

The data is published is in CSV format, which means you will need to expand the columns in the spredsheet to view the data in full. The data provided includes the following:

  • a transaction posting date
  • supplier name
  • transaction amount
  • comments about the transaction
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