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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 24 November 2024
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Displaying 575 contributions

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Economy and Fair Work Committee

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-Legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 13 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

The evidence that we have heard over the past few weeks from suppliers and buyers is that, when the website was introduced back in 2008, it was very welcome as it provided one point where people could find all the contracts. Sixteen years later, however, it is looking a bit dated in comparison with other e-tendering systems. Can you highlight what the plans are to replace or upgrade that system in the future? In addition, for my benefit, can you tell us why there are two systems? There is Public Contracts Scotland and a separate tendering system.

11:30  

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-Legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 13 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

That would reduce the administrative burden that a lot of suppliers feel they have.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-Legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 13 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

I put my question to everybody else. Julie, do you have views on how to improve the system?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Interests

Meeting date: 12 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

The only relevant interest that I have to declare is that my wife is a local government councillor.

Economy and Fair Work Committee 6 March 2024

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 6 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

As a buyer who uses the portal to put up contracts for suppliers, how easy do you find it to use?

Economy and Fair Work Committee 6 March 2024

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 6 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

Are the two systems used for different things, or are they different stages of the same process?

Economy and Fair Work Committee 6 March 2024

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 6 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

The Public Contracts Scotland website has been on the go since 2008. When it was introduced, it was a good improvement on where we were previously, but what is your experience as buyers who are using that website now? Is there anything that could be improved, as we move forward? Gordon Beattie mentioned that the website is currently under review. Can you say why that is and what difficulties you are trying to address?

Economy and Fair Work Committee 6 March 2024

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 6 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

Joe Rowan, I think that Scottish Water does not use the platform because you have your own e-sourcing portal. Have you compared it with the Public Contracts Scotland website?

Economy and Fair Work Committee 6 March 2024

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 6 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

Does your platform have any functionality that we should be building into Public Contracts Scotland’s website?

Economy and Fair Work Committee 6 March 2024

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 6 March 2024

Gordon MacDonald

Good morning.

I want to ask you specifically about your experience of using the Public Contracts Scotland website. It has been on the go since 2008, and although there have been improvements in recent years, I am interested to hear your experiences. Last week, we heard from suppliers that having one portal is an improvement on what existed before—it is more transparent and it opens up opportunities for more suppliers—but it has been a bit clunky, although it has improved. What is your experience of using it?