SCOTLAND Excel’s Flexible Procurement Service is celebrating its fifth anniversary after awarding its 135th contract – bringing the total value of contracts it has handled to £39 million.
Since the service was launched in April 2020, it has been involved in 200 projects for 26 Scottish organisations, ranging from councils and housing associations to leisure trusts and universities.
Several organisations have become repeat users of the service, including 45 projects for Crown Estate Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Council who worked with the team on 18 projects between 2022 and 2024.
The team’s approach sees it become an embedded part of the organisation it is working with, whether delivering a short-term project, or a longer-term piece of procurement work.
Councillor John Shaw, convener of Scotland Excel, said, “Congratulations to the Flexible Procurement Service on reaching their milestone fifth anniversary. They’ve certainly made a huge impact on the sector, having delivered such a vast range of procurement projects for organisations across the public and third sectors.
“Handling 200 projects within five years is hugely impressive and the fact that many organisations are returning customers is a testament to the service. The team’s ability to step in at any point in the procurement cycle means councils, housing associations and other public and third sector organisations can ensure contracts are delivered on time and essential services are in place.
“This unique approach sees projects delivered efficiently and effectively in the client organisation’s best interest through various procurement routes. It is wonderful news that the team has delivered 135 contracts on behalf of the sector, worth £39m.”
The Flexible Procurement Service works with Scotland Excel’s council and associate members. The procurement work delivered has covered a range of areas including social care case management, legal services, outdoor event management, local plan and town investment consultancy, national IT systems and data platforms, as well as engineering, estates management and construction works.
The team uses each client’s standing orders and templates, making sure every procurement aligns fully with their internal processes and legislative requirements. This maintains consistency and quality and means when clients undertake future procurement exercises, they can easily replicate the process.
Recent projects saw the team delivering two urgent direct awards from national frameworks and tendering for a Microsoft licencing agreement which saw a 3% saving against the client’s budget. Fifteen contracts have been awarded in the first three months of 2025 alone.
Since it was launched the team has worked closely with Dundee City Council on 61 projects. Julie Thompson, corporate procurement manager, at Dundee City Council, said, “Scotland Excel’s Flexible Procurement Team is exemplars of best practice, highest professional standards and procurement capability. They have supported Dundee City Council to deliver a multitude of procurements within a relatively short period of time. The service has been invaluable to the sustainability of service delivery.”
