PUBLIC CONTRACTS SCOTLAND – First Scottish National Portal

The first ever national contracts advertising portal, Public Contracts Scotland, www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk was officially launched at the Scottish Government National Public Procurement Conference in Glasgow by Finance Secretary John Swinney.

The public sector spends around £8 billion per year on goods, works and services which is a significant market for Scottish suppliers. Until now, there has been no single mechanism giving suppliers access to contract opportunities across the entire Scottish Public Sector.

In the current economic climate it is vital that public spending supports the economy and the availability of the portal at this particular point in the economic cycle is of significant benefit to individual businesses around the country. The project signals a major step change in the way that the public and private sectors will do business in future – in particular by reducing red tape and removing barriers that can prevent them working together.

Speaking at the conference Mr Swinney said, “One single source of information now gives suppliers access to contracts. For the public sector, a free and simple portal can open up tender opportunities to a wide range of potential bidders.”

Public Contracts Scotland is already improving access to public business opportunities, with over 30,000 suppliers registered and information on over 4,000 contract notices published since it was launched in October last year.

The portal will stimulate economic growth in Scotland by developing a competitive market environment in which potential suppliers have easy access to essential information on business opportunities arising from the public sector.