{{Short description|National advertising website for Scottish public sector organisations}} {{more footnotes needed|date=September 2010}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Use British English|date=July 2017}}

'''Public Contracts Scotland''' was established as the national advertising website for Scottish [[public sector]] organisations to post [[Official Journal of the European Union]] (OJEU) notices (contracts over the European directive thresholds) and low value contracts (commonly known as sub-threshold ) notices on the website and make subsequent awards. Since 1 January 2021 it reflects Scottish [[Government procurement in the United Kingdom#Scotland|public procurement]] legislation, as [[Brexit|the UK has left the European Union]]. The site also allows contracting authorities to invite [[suppliers]] to submit quotations (Quick Quotes) electronically via the website's secure tender postbox.

== Background == Public Contracts Scotland was created as a result of [[John McClelland (businessman)|John McClelland]]'s 2006 Review of Public Procurement in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Public Procurement Reform Programme 2006-2016: achievements and impacts |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/public-procurement-reform-programme-2006-2016-achievements-impacts/pages/5/ |website=Scottish Government |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> The McClelland report called for a single public sector "electronic portal" to be established as a part of the [[Scottish Government]]’s Public Procurement Reform Programme. As a result, in October 2008 Public Contracts Scotland was launched. The site provides suppliers with easy access to all essential information on public sector contract opportunities, encouraging a competitive market environment generating a better deal for the taxpayer. The site provides purchasers with a centralised system to advertise all types of contracts to thousands of registered suppliers.

Public Contracts Scotland was launched by [[John Swinney]] [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]], Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, at the National Procurement conference in October 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAQ - All users - Public Contracts Scotland |url=https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_faq.aspx |website=Public Contracts Scotland |publisher=Public Contracts Scotland |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>

Public Contracts Scotland is managed by Proactis Tenders Ltd. (previously known as Millstream Associates Ltd.<ref name="Scottish Government">{{cite web |title=Scottish national advertising portal contract |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-national-advertising-portal-contract/ |website=Scottish Government |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>) which also develops and manages the tender alert service Tenders Direct as well as the national public procurement websites for [[Wales]] (and previously [[Ireland]] and [[Norway]]).

==Legislation == Legislation governs how Scottish public bodies, including the Scottish Government, buy goods, works and services.

The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014<ref>{{cite web |title=Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/12/contents |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> built on the work achieved in the reform of public procurement, providing direction to public bodies and setting out procurement responsibilities and accountabilities.

It is Scottish Government policy for all contracting authorities in Scotland to use Public Contracts Scotland. This includes Scottish Local Authorities, [[NHS Scotland]], the [[Scottish Government]] and Scottish Government Family, [[Higher education in Scotland|higher]]/further education institutes and [[emergency services]]. In total the public sector in Scotland procures over £13.3bn<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Government |url=https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/ |website=Scottish Government |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> worth of goods and services every year, with approximately 150 public bodies each spending over £1m every year, sixty per cent of which spend more than £25 million a year on goods and services (92% total spending). Public Contracts Scotland provides a connection for private businesses to access contract opportunities from public sector purchasers.

==PCS-Tender website== The Public Contracts Scotland Tender website is also known as PCS-Tender and PCS-T. Public Contracts Scotland Tender is Scotland's national [[E-tendering|eTendering]] system, and is centrally funded by the Scottish Government. The system is a secure website for buyers and suppliers to manage tender exercises and bids online.<ref>[https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html PCS-Tender], accessed 14 September 2022</ref> This site is managed by BravoSolution UK Limited.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Contracts Scotland-Tender contract |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/public-contracts-scotland-tender-contract/ |website=Scottish Government |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>

== Free tender training and support in Scotland == The Scottish Government supports businesses in learning how to bid through the Public Contracts Scotland and Public Contracts Scotland Tender websites through the Supplier Development Programme.<ref>{{cite web |title=PCS Information and Support |url=https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/HelpAndResources/NewsAndEvents |website=Public Contracts Scotland |publisher=Public Contracts Scotland |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>

The Supplier Journey<ref>{{cite web |title=Supplier Journey |url=https://www.supplierjourney.scot/ |website=Supplier Journey |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> provides guidance to businesses on how to bid for public sector contracts.

The Procurement Journey<ref>{{cite web |title=Procurement Journey |url=https://www.procurementjourney.scot/ |website=Procurement Journey |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> provides guidance to public sector buyers which procure goods, services and care and support services in Scotland.

==External links== * [http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk Public Contracts Scotland] * [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/03/14105448/0 The Scottish Government: Publications] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7su2LAIW3e0 YouTube: Public Contracts Scotland - One Year On] * [https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html PCS Tender] * [http://www.sdpscotland.co.uk Supplier Development Programme] * [https://www.supplierjourney.scot Supplier Journey]

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Public finance of Scotland]] [[Category:Scottish websites]] [[Category:Government procurement in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:2008 establishments in Scotland]] [[Category:Government agencies established in 2008]] [[Category:Organisations based in Aberdeen]]