Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has adopted an electronic
Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) that is best practice for
procurement.
The new system will be used to contract for National Training
Programmes (NTPs) from 2012/13 onwards.
Under the DPS, organisations will complete an Indicative Tender
Document (ITD) that is accessible through the Public
Contracts Scotland web portal (http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/). The
ITD includes clear guidance that outlines the scoring criteria each
application will be marked against - ensuring equality for all
participating training providers.
The new system also means that providers do not have to wait
long to find out whether their application has been successful.
Within just 15 working days of submitting their ITD, they will
receive communication on the result of their application from
SDS.
With the introduction of this new, streamlined system,
organisations will no longer have to go through the lengthy process
of reapplying each year. Successful providers will be valid in the
system for two years and SDS has the option of extending it for a
further two years.
Those providers will then only be required to update basic
details on an annual basis at a time agreed jointly with SDS. This
will include health and safety information, financial statements
and insurance details.
Once organisations are approved and in the system, they are then
permitted to bid for one of SDS's various training programme
packages or 'lots' as they are called. For example, this could be a
'lot' to deliver Modern Apprenticeships in the Energy and Low
Carbon sector.
SDS will advertise the lots for a set period of time and at this
point the DPS will not be open to new applicants. It will only
reopen after the advertising of the lots has been completed.
This new DPS builds on the successes of last year's electronic
process but has been refined to suit the NTPs based on feedback
received from successful and unsuccessful bidders.
It also has the added benefits of reducing paperwork and cutting
the amount of time businesses have to spend providing us with the
same information.