TENDERING FOCUS
By Jennifer Payne, Development Officer, Supplier Development Programme
F
or small, micro and medium-sized businesses in Scotland, deciding which routes to take to market can be difficult. In Scotland, there is an annual public sector
spend of £11 billion, all of which is advertised through Public Contracts Scotland, the national public sector tender portal for Scotland.
Contrary to popular belief, contracts
do not always go to the same suppliers. Transparency is required for the procurement of goods, services and works, so public sector buyers are required to be open, fair and honest. There is a robust audit trail for public procurement in Scotland, and it is a right of suppliers to express any concerns they may have about a specific tender exercise through the Scottish Government’s Single Point of Enquiry (SPoE), which offers independent advice. It’s also a myth that SMEs are
not a priority in public sector procurement. Written into Scots law as the Sustainable Procurement Duty, buyers have a duty to engage with SME businesses to support local employment and retain wealth locally.
The benefits to winning public sector contracts are many, including: ●No debt risk as public bodies have a legal duty to pay SME supplier invoices within 30 days, or ten days if the SME has a cash flow issue ●Stability for your business through potential uncertainty, such as the current coronavirus crisis, or economic downturns. Public services still need to be delivered, so your business will benefit from a relatively stable and durable customer base ●Marketing mileage from having a large customer like a public body. The Supplier Development Programme (SDP) was set up in 2008 by Scottish local authorities as a free service for bid support and tender training for SME businesses. It’s now grown to become a partnership of all 32
38 CABLEtalk APRIL/MAY 2020
Tender loving care
With £11 billion of public sector work up for grabs in Scotland every year, successful tendering can bring many benefits. Here, we shatter some of the most popular myths about the process and reveal how careful planning can help you take your first steps on the ladder
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