eTendering
From March 2006, Scottish Government Social Research moved to an electronic tendering process, with tenders being issued through the easy-to-use and cost effective e-procurement scotland service.
With the advent of electronic communications much of the paperwork involved in formal tendering procedures can be replaced with electronic equivalents that are both secure and legally binding. Scottish Government Social Research sees a number of benefits to e-tendering for both the contractors and for the Scottish Government.
For contractors, the potential benefits include:
- Elimination of costs of printing proposals
- Elimination of lead-time of printing proposals
- Elimination of postage/courier costs and lead-time
- Electronic confirmation of receipt by Scottish Government Social Research of proposal
For Scottish Government Social Research, the benefits include:
- Time and cost savings of scanning, recording and filing hard copy tenders
- Supporting a strategy of electronic records management
- Providing an electronic audit trail
- It may open the requirement to a wider market
What will it mean for contractors?
The journey from first contact to connection to eProcurement Scotl@nd is simple and contractors will find it easy to transact with SG Social Research. The system is web-based, only needing connection to the Internet. The software is designed to be user-friendly and self-explanatory so that tenderers familiar with the Internet can navigate their path through the system without recourse to the Government.
Expressions of Interest for research projects will be sought in the usual way (through the Scottish Government website, circulation lists and research programme advertising etc). If invited to tender, contractors will receive an e-mail inviting them to access the e-tender website where tender documents will be available for downloading. Before using the site, contractors will be required to register. After registering, only those projects to which contractors have been invited to tender are available for viewing.
Electronic tendering is already successfully being used by a range of organisations in Scotland, including central and local government and the NHS. Experience to date suggests that suppliers find the system relatively easy to use and generally do not require additional assistance.
In addition, technical assistance will be provided through e-Procurement Scotland (0131 244 3509).
If a contractor has valid reasons for not being able to use the electronic procurement system, please contact Office of Chief Researcher (0131 244 2236) so that alternative arrangements can be made. It should also be noted that, where appropriate, some Scottish Government research will still be commissioned using the existing postal hard copy system.