SCOTTISH Procurement Alliance (SPA) is launching a free call-off service for its public sector partners following a successful pilot.
The service is said to simplify the procurement process by providing a collaborative sharing of resources that frees up time and resource.
The call-off service will initially be launched on a selection of SPA frameworks, including: Consultancy (H1 WS1); Whole House Framework and DPS (WH2); Fire Safety (FS1); Asbestos (AS2); Vacant Property (V7); Kitchen Units and Worktops (K6); and Energy Efficiency Consultancy (N8C).
The call-off service has already been piloted with nine partners across Scotland. One of these is Manor Estates Housing Association, which owns and manages around 1,000 social and 80 mid–market rent properties across Edinburgh. Property services director Amanda Hay said, “SPA helped us formulate our tender documents and load them onto the Public Contracts Scotland portal. They fielded questions from bidders, analysed submissions and structured both the contract award and notifications to unsuccessful bidders.
“After an initial meeting to scope the projects and set up timelines for each stage, everything else was handled through virtual meetings and via e-mail. All in all, the process was slick and pain free, and we would definitely look to procure further projects with the SPA team.”
SPA director Clive Feeney said, “Scotland’s ambitious housing targets mean that the pressure on public sector organisations to find greater efficiencies and cost savings in their procurement processes has never been greater. Using our call-off service, in which they have ready access to carefully vetted suppliers – all of whom are compliant with public sector procurement regulations – a crucial part of the process has already been done for them.
“We expect the service to be particularly welcomed by our partners without a procurement department or for those who have limited resources for procurement.”
