The Scottish Government and other parts of the public sector in Scotland, including AiB, want Scotland to be seen as a good place to do business by making it as easy as possible for micro or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to compete for public sector contracts.
Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) provides suppliers with easy access to view and receive information in relation to contract opportunities from across the Scottish public sector.
Contracts that have been let by Scottish Procurement as well as contracts under development can be viewed in the Scottish Procurement contracts and strategy directory.
Following extensive consultation with business and the wider public sector, the Scottish Government have developed a standard Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (sPQQ) and sPQQ Guidance for Suppliers. These standard questions in the form of a template are now incorporated into the new shared service e-tendering service (PCS – Tender) that is currently being implemented across the wider Scottish public sector.
The Supplier Journey:
- explains the process of awarding a public sector contract in straightforward terms
- sets out what buyers expect you to do at each stage in that process
- gives practical information on how you can find out about business opportunities, how to bid for business, and what to expect when delivering the contract
- tells you what support is available to help you win business, and what you can do if you are unsuccessful
The Single Point of Enquiry is an independent, impartial and confidential service for suppliers to the public sector in Scotland, offering advice and information on how public contracts are advertised and awarded. While the services does not have formal powers to investigate concerns or change decisions made by buying organisations, they can informally work with you and the buying organisation to try to resolve any concerns you may have about a specific tender exercise.
The Suppliers’ Charter is a joint statement between public sector procurement organisations and Scottish businesses outlining how they will work together to facilitate access to public sector procurement opportunities.
Scottish Procurement works closely with other public sector organisations and supplier representative bodies to standardise public sector procurement processes in Scotland and make it easier for potential suppliers of all sizes to find and bid for public contracts.
Public procurement in Scotland uses a comprehensive suite of eCommerce tools to drive procurement improvement and make the public procurement process more efficient, transparent, and consistent for both buyers and suppliers.