How to Tender with the University

For suppliers looking for further information on how to tender and contract with the University.

Tendering Platforms

The University will advertise all tender opportunities above £50,000 via Public Contract Scotland (PCS).

Tenders are conducted on the E tendering platform Public Contract Scotland – Tender (PCS-T).

Suppliers interested in contracting with the University should register for both platforms:

Public Contract Scotland

PCS-T

Find Tender Opportunities

You can search the University’s live tenders via the Search for Notices page on PCS:

 

Current Market Engagement & Research

The University may conduct market research or market engagement before publishing a tender requirement. 

You can help us with our market research by responding to our Prior Information Notices (PIN) that are relevant to you.

Some PINs will include a a questionnaire for further information on your company or what you can offer. 

Prior Information Notices

A PIN is a Prior Information Notice published to let the market know that the contracting authority is planning to publish a Tender. It allows potential bidders to future plan and prepare for a future bid. It also provides us with information on the market and suppliers within it.

SMEs- A PIN is a useful way for the University to understand if there are SMEs in the market. We encourage SMEs to engage with PIN's and make us aware that you are in the market and can provide the requirement. We are then able to take this into consideration when drafting the tender documentation. 

PINs are published on PCS Search for PIN Notices

You can find them on PCS by changing Notice type to ‘Future Opportunities’ in the Search Notices area. Or visit the Buyers profile and check Future Contract Notices.

Further Support for Public Procurement

Supplier Development Programme 

Suppliers new to the Tender process or wanting to find out more about the tender process in the public sector can engage with the Supplier Development Programme.

The Supplier Development Programme provides information and support on bidding for opportunities in the public sector.

It provides business support in all aspects of tendering, assisting businesses to become tender ready for public procurement. Support is delivered through a multitude of information guides, resources, training and events.

This support is available to all registered small or medium enterprises (SMEs) based in Scotland. 

Supplier Development Programme 

Supplier Journey

The Scottish government has created the Supplier Journey as a tool for suppliers looking to learn and engage with public procurement in Scotland. 

Supplier Journey

Contract Opportunities with Consortia 

The University is a member of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC) Ltd, Scotland’s centre of procurement expertise for universities and colleges.

APUC sets up collaborative framework contracts on behalf of higher and further education institutions. Frameworks allow the University to call off directly to suppliers and run mini-competitions for requirements with suppliers on the frameworks.

If you are interested in establishing a place on APUCs frameworks, you can access the consortia’s Contract Notice & PIN publications via PCS.

The University also utilises frameworks from other Public Sector Consortia such as:

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