SDS Procurement Policy
Our procurement procedures, detailed in our SDS Procurement Policy Manual, depend on the
value and nature of what is being purchased.
All our business opportunities/contract opportunities over
£50,000 are advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland
website. You can express your interest in these
opportunities by registering as a supplier on the site. You will
then be notified of any contracts which you can apply for.
Framework agreements
For certain requirements we may select suppliers through
existing framework agreements.
Mini-competitions being conducted through existing framework
agreements:
- Procurement Scotland
- Central Government Centre of Procurement Expertise
(CGCOPE)
- buyingsolutions.
McClelland Report
Read the Summary of the recommendations of the McClelland
Report
Suppliers' Charter
Skills Development Scotland fully supports the Scottish
Government Suppliers' Charter with regard to how we treat our
suppliers in our tender processes.
Read the
Suppliers' Charter on the Scottish Government website.
Law and Conditions of Purchase
Public sector procurement is a legal process. Skills Development
Scotland are required to adhere to EU legal requirements.
The appropriate Conditions of Contract will be supplied for
bespoke complex high value procurements.
Skills Development Scotland standard terms and
conditions (short form)
Skills Development Scotland standard terms and
conditions (long form)
Sustainable Procurement
Skills Development Scotland recognises the need to drive
sustainable procurement in all its purchasing activities and fully
endorses the Scottish
Government's Sustainable Procurement Action Plan. Skills
Development Scotland will use this Action Plan and work with the
Scottish Government to produce a Skills Development Scotland
Delivery Plan with the aim to providing effective sustainable
procurement.
The Action Plan identifies 10 steps to sustainable
procurement and Skills Development Scotland will follow these in
order to improve the sustainability of its procurement
activity.
Supplier Development
To undertake a major public sector procurement is an exacting
and lengthy process. Suppliers require to make a business decision
as to whether they can meet the requirements and appreciate the
timeframe and cost of sales involved in competing for public sector
business.
The Supplier Development
Programme (SDP) is a local authority partnership prgramme
established to offer Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) the
opportunity to grow and diversify through engaging with Public
Sector organisations.
On the SDP website you will find tips for responding to public
tenders as well as help with policies. In addition the SDP also
provides workshops to cover specific topics relating to completing
pre-qualification questionnaires and tenders for public sector.
Contact Us
For more information on our processes and procedures email procurement@sds.co.uk