Let the computer run it for us: Public Contracts Scotland - Portal Update

I get, or used to get mails like the one following. I had needed to sign up to Public Contracts Scotland to bid for a tender a few years back. I have bid to handle several educational projects in my life but never ever have I been expected to declare my *exual orientation in the process.  What the flip is it to them?

I've now happily unsubscribed from the mailings of PCS, a self-congratulatory group that's claiming to handle tenders better. If they are indeed handling them better than anyone else, I do suggest that they have words with the author of the grossly pointless mailing below. I hope you enjoy reading it. 

Dear Supplier

The developments detailed below have been released on the Public Contracts Scotland service as of 12th August 2011. The developments made to the service were carried out after consultation with buyers and suppliers across Scotland. We would be grateful if you could click on the links provided to documents which provide further details.

SUPPLIER FINDER

Supplier Finder is the supplier sourcing directory for the Scottish Public Sector. It builds on the information already held within Public Contracts Scotland, allowing suppliers to provide buyers with detailed information regarding the goods, works or services which they can provide. The service will further help connect public and private sector business.

Buyers will use the tool to source suppliers for low value/low risk quotations. Completing a Supplier Finder profile may enhance the chances of a 'Quick Quote' being sent to your registration. Buyers may also use the information to analyse particular supply markets prior to commencement of the contracting process.

Please see the Supplier Finder user guide for more information: http://www.millstream.eu/guides/en-gb/Scotland/Supplier%20Finder%20-%20Supplier%20Guide.pdf

Other developments released at this time are as follows:

- NOTICE ALERT SERVICE - REGIONAL E-MAIL ALERT FILTERING
- SUPPLIER CONTROL PANEL
- SUPPLIER QUICK QUOTE CONTROL PANEL
- ADD SUPPLIER TO DISTRIBUTION LIST

A document detailing these changes can be found here:

http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/guides/Guide_Download.aspx?id=881

We hope that you find these development useful. Please don't hesitate to contact the Public Contracts Scotland Support Team for further information or support - Tel 0844 561 0673.

Regards

Gary Robinson
Procurement Development Manager – Scottish Government

Government depts run by nasties: Public Contracts Scotland - win a tender - do the work - and wait wait wait for payment

Everyone but me knows that you need stamina to handle a tender for a government project. The stamina required isn't just for the several late nights to ensure your bid complies with the rules; it's also about being able to wait for your money. So what was supposed to be a series of payment milestones was bulldozered by a "Procurement dept" into one final payment which arrived three months late.

A tip on submitting a tender is that if you do include a timeline for your project, you should expect it to be used and abused in your contract. No discussion will be allowed if the procurement dept decides that the project needs to finish on a date of their choosing. You will find that your payment milestones are unachievable and so you'll not see money so soon. 

Do ensure you send only one address and one bank account. If you are outside the UK and have a UK contact, the procurement department will by default post to the address requiring the cheapest stamp. As a result of this we received our contract to sign by the time we were 75% of the way through. Cheques were sent to the wrong account and payments that were said to have been made, repeatedly turned out not be made.

Public Contracts Scotland may have its own one star iphone app. It may also be fair and immune to past cronyism in public tenders. It may also break new ground by asking new suppliers what their sexual orientation is - hec how groovy but incredible. Expect to feel bullied, not just into answering such a question in this context, but bullied all through your contract. And be sure to price for the time you will spend stuck inside its strangulated hernia of a bureaucracy.

Blog post file under: work I wish I had never done;

http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/