There are various ways in which you can receive further support and guidance on procurement.
If your query is regarding a particular quotation or tender then you should always raise a query as early as possible directly with the public sector buyer. They will know the specifics of the particular tender.
Any queries should ideally be raised in writing.
Queries can be raised with the relevant Centre of Expertise if your query is regarding a specific sector e.g. education (APUC), health (NSS), local government (Scotland Excel) or central government (Scottish Procurement).
Business Gateway provides practical help, advice and support for new and growing businesses in Scotland, such as:
Magazines / e-bulletins / newsletters / leaflets;
Telephone help/support centre;
Training courses and events;
One-on-one consultancy support.
Social Enterprise Network Scotland (SENScot) provide support for to organisations who create work for those who face barriers to employment . They provide: information and advice; business development support; events and training; fostering collaboration.
SENScot also supports the networking of social entrepreneurs, and are working to establish and maintain a support network for social enterprises.
As well as providing this Supplier Journey website, Scottish Procurement also provide support and guidance via gov.scot: the Scottish Government website includes a section on Public Procurement in Scotland, which includes a range of information including legislation.
The Single Point of Enquiry (SPoE) - is a free impartial point of contact where suppliers can seek advice or raise concerns if they are dissatisfied with a specific public procurement. It’s important to note that the SPoE does not have any legal powers regarding a tender decision made by a public body.
The Procurement Journey is a website which contains guidance written for public sector buyers. This takes buyers through the complete procurement process. It is useful for suppliers to refer to this to gain an understanding of why buyers are asking for specific information in their tenders.
Further information on the approach the Scottish public sector takes to cyber resilience, including the Cyber Security Procurement Support Tool, can be found on the Scottish Government website.
You can access authoritative advice and support to improve your organisational cyber resilience at the following links:
Both online resourcing portals include their own user guidance to support you through using these systems, as per below:
PCS website:www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
PCS Helpline: 0800 222 9003
PCS-T website: www.publictenderscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
PCS-T Helpline: 0800 069 8630
PCS-T Helpline email: help@bravosolution.com