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General Enquiries

Telephone Enquiry Line:
+44 (0)8457 741 741 or +44 (0)131 556 8400

Email:
General Enquiries mailbox(ceu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk)

Fax: +44 (0)1397 795 001 Minicom: +44 (0)131 244 1829 (service for the deaf)

Main addresses

Scottish Procurement & Commercial

Director: Alastair Merrill

The Directorate is responsible for developing and advising on a range of procurement activity and commercial decision-making, including implementing procurement policy, promoting best practice in project delivery, and setting up contracts and framework agreements for itself and the wider public sector in Scotland.

The plan sets out the Directorate's key deliverables and intended improvements for the business year 2011/2012.

Purpose

To deliver greater value for money in public spending across Scotland by:

  • leading and enabling public sector procurement 1 reform in Scotland
  • building the Scottish Government's commercial capability
  • optimising the use and exploitation of the Scottish Government's property and commercial assets
  • delivering savings and benefits through improved procurement and commercial management of contracts

Key responsibilities

  • To ensure that procurement activity and commercial decision-making is conducted to the highest possible standard; effort is not duplicated; and, that resources are allocated where they are most needed. [Capability] 2
  • Scotland is seen as a good place to do business by making it as easy as possible to compete for public sector contracts, particularly for Small, Medium Enterprises. [Competitiveness] 2
  • Procurement across the public sector delivers further, real and lasting benefits on the ground. [Capturing Savings and Benefits] 2
  • Improved procurement has the widest possible coverage across the Scottish public sector. [Coverage] 2
  • The Public Sector is working collaboratively, ensuring that effort is not duplicated, that best practice is shared and we learn from each other. [Collaboration] 2
  • Procurement activity and the activity of those awarded public contracts conforms to robust ethical standards and contributes fully to sustainable development. [Corporate Social Responsibility] 2
  • Greater awareness of how procurement and commercial decision making contributes to public services making the best use of public money and on helping the Scottish Government achieve its overarching purpose of sustainable economic growth. [Communications] 2

[1] Public procurement can be defined as the acquisition, whether under formal contract or otherwise, of goods, services and works from third parties by contracting authorities.

[2] These are the Directorate's seven strategic objectives - the "Seven Cs" - drawn from the Procurement Reform Strategy.

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Page updated: Friday, May 13, 2011