"Anderson Scientific is a very small business - in fact I am sole trader, but I have found that there are opportunities to tender for collaborative contracts."
Robert Anderson,
Anderson Scientific
Preparing for tender
Scotland Excel follows a nine stage stage contract placement process which ensures that our approach to developing and awarding contracts is consistent, transparent and fair for everyone involved.
The contract placement process usually begins around six months before the planned start date of the contract, although this can vary depending on the complexity of the contract and whether it is for a new commodity area or one that has previously been part of our portfolio.
Suppliers can anticipate when contract development is underway by consulting our contract delivery plan. Tenders are normally issued around four months before the planned contract start date, and these will be advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland Advertising Portal.
If you are not already registered with Public Contracts Scotland (PCS), this is the time to visit the website and sign up to receive notification of the tender publication. We advise all suppliers to monitor Public Contracts Scotland regularly and familiarise themselves with how to use the electronic tender form.
If this is the first time you have tendered for a public sector contract, you should also consider the documentation you may be asked to supply as part of your tender and ensure you have this prepared. This may include evidence of quality assurance accreditations, health and safety policies and risk management procedures, or which demonstrate a sustainable approach. Further guidance is available on the Scottish Government website.
At this stage, suppliers should also familiarise themselves with Scotland Excel's General Conditions of Contract to ensure that they are able and willing to comply with these terms.
- Contract placement process
(pdf 41kb) - General Conditions of Contract
(pdf 279kb)