Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
FOI Reference: FOI/202400402514
Date received: 2 March 2024
Date responded: 25 March 2024
Request
Request for Information 1: I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 regarding the planned quick quotes (low value/low risk contracts up to £50,000) that your organisation intends to publish on Public Contracts Scotland over the next 12 months. I kindly request the following details for each planned quick quote:
Request for Information 2: Additionally, I would appreciate information on the process for businesses, especially micro or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to participate in the bidding process for these quick quotes. Specifically, please provide details on the steps and requirements for businesses interested in submitting bids.
Response
Request for Information 1:
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested. This is because there are currently no quick quotes planned for publication in the next 12 months.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested.
Request for Information 2:
For contract opportunities valued at under £50K excluding VAT, Social Security Scotland uses the quick quote functionality in Public Contract Scotland (PCS) to search for potential suppliers. Normally a minimum of 3 suppliers are selected to submit a quote. Social Security Scotland advertises our contract opportunities on Public Contracts Scotland https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ – the national advertising website for Scottish public sector organisations. It is recommended that all interested suppliers register on Public Contracts Scotland to ensure they receive alerts to Social Security Scotland’s contract opportunities.
Before buying goods or services, Social Security Scotland considers if there is an existing contract or framework agreement that can be accessed to source our requirements. We also consider Crown Commercial Service framework agreements.
Social Security Scotland issue a quick quote if the value of the goods and services is under £50K ex VAT and there is no existing contract or framework available.
Social Security Scotland also publishes our higher value contract opportunities on Find a Tender – a website for the UK’s public and utilities sectors to advertise their higher value contracts (usually above £116,407 excluding VAT, £139,688 inclusive of VAT). Find a Tender replaced the European Union’s Tenders Electronic Daily from 1 January 2021. You may also wish to register on the Find a Tender website https://www.gov.uk/find-tender
Forward Plan
Details of Social Security Scotland’s Forward Work Plan can be found at: Buyer View - Public Contracts Scotland
About FOI
Social Security Scotland is committed to publishing its response to requests. The Scottish Government also publishes responses to requests. You can view the responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.