New public sector procurement guide
27 April 2010
New guide offers food producers a slice of public pie.
Advice for Scottish businesses on how to secure lucrative contracts.
A new guide offering smaller and medium sized enterprises advice on how to bid for public sector catering contracts has been launched.
The 30-page guide has been produced by the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) and Scotland Food & Drink on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Speaking at today's official launch at Perth Grammar School, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
"This Guide provides practical guidance to businesses interested in getting a foothold in selling quality food and drink to the public sector. It will help dispel any notion that these contracts are off limits or too complex for smaller sized food producers and manufacturing businesses.
"The public purse always looks for value for money but we recognise that price is not the only factor. Food is not just a commodity. It affects our health and our environment. That is why the Scottish Government firmly supports sustainable public procurement.
"The Guide contains a wealth of information which I hope will see many more SMEs competing and winning contracts to deliver healthful, sustainably produced food and drink in schools, hospitals and across the public sector."
Alan Stevenson, Supply Chain Development Director at SAOS, said:
"The Guide was developed using the real experiences of those involved in public procurement throughout Scotland, which has helped provide an invaluable insight into the tendering process and procedures on a practical level. Most importantly, companies need to know how such markets operate, what the requirements are, and how to adopt a professional approach giving them the best chance to win new business. The Guide, along with a helpline, advisory support and learning workshops will help them to do this."
One of the excellent examples of this approach is the relationship built up between StirFresh Lt d and Tayside Contracts. StirFresh was originally a farming -based business and is now a key supplier of prepared fruit and vegetable produce. Andrew Stirling, owner and director of StirFresh, said:
"Our family farming business has worked with the public sector for a number of years, supplying fresh produce grown on the farm to schools and hospitals. We have shown a willingness to change and grow and would encourage others to do the same and are fully supportive of the drive to get more fresh and healthy produce into Scotland's public sector. "
Download the guide here
