Help and Information for Suppliers
As a supplier to the Scottish public sector, there are a lot of products that the Scottish Government provides that can help you through the public procurement process. To assist you in this process the products available have been pulled together in a 'one-stop-shop'.
The Scottish Government recently launched the first version of the Supplier Journey and are inviting feedback from suppliers as to its usefulness and areas for improvement.
The Government and other parts of the public sector in Scotland are engaging with business organisations to improve the fairness and transparency of public sector procurement in Scotland. The Scottish Government aims to reduce "Barriers to Business" with the public sector. Key documents include:
- Tendering for Public Contracts: A short guide for businesses
- Suppliers' Charter
- Pre Qualification Questionnaire
It has also resulted in the creation of Public Contracts Scotland, the national contracts advertising portal. This holds contracting opportunities from public sector organisations across Scotland. Suppliers are encouraged to register and sign up for free email alerts.
Further guidance for suppliers includes the following documentation:
- Commodities Purchased 09/10 (goods, services and works purchased by the Scottish public sector in 2009/10)
- Scottish Public Sector Procurement Spend Breakdown 2009/10 (percentage of expenditure the different areas of the Scottish public sector was responsible for in 2009/10)
- Scottish Contracting Authorities (currently using Public Contracts Scotland regularly)
- Publication of Core Scottish Government Expenditure Over £25K
- Links (to other useful sites)
Publication of the "Review of Public Procurement in Scotland" by John McClelland in March 2006 reinforced the initiatives proposed by the SME forum. The aim is to ensure that, wherever possible and, consistent with the need to secure value for money, suitably qualified SMEs have the opportunity to compete for public sector business.
The Public Procurement Advisory Group's remit is to provide an ongoing framework for dialogue about, and influence upon, public procurement practices as they affect suppliers. For the next 3 years there will be a particular focus on the implementation of the Reform programme.
