Public body procurement reports and strategies 2023 to 2024: analysis

9. Future regulated procurements

The 2014 Act lays out the requirements for annual procurement reports to include information on future procurement activities.

(2) The report must include—

(f) a summary of the regulated procurements the authority expects to commence in the next two financial years,

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 12), Section 18 (Scottish Government, 2014)

9.1 Number of expected future regulated procurements

Nearly all of the annual procurement reports (121, 97%, n=124) provided information about the total number of expected regulated procurements for the next two years. The total number of expected regulated procurements for the next two years was reported in 2023 to 2024 as 6,484. The average number of expected regulated procurements per public body in the next two years was 54.

Figure 9.1 details the sectoral breakdown of expected regulated procurements for the next two financial years beyond 2023 to 2024. Local government reported the largest number of expected regulated procurements in the next two years with 2,749.

Source: 2023 to 2024 annual procurement reports

Base: n=120. Including all respondents who inserted a numerical value including (0) but excluding those entries which are blank or "N/A"

9.2 Value of future expected regulated procurements

The total estimated value of future regulated procurements expected to commence in the next two financial years, combined across all 110 annual procurement reports (89%, n=124) which provided this information for 2023 to 2024, is £15.5 billion. This is £3.6 billion less (19%) than what was reported in 2022 to 2023, when 105 public bodies provided this information.

The average estimated value of these future regulated procurements reported as expected to commence in the next two financial years is £141.1 million per public body (n=110). This is £40.4 million less (22%) per public body than what was reported in 2022 to 2023.

Figure 9.2 details the sector breakdown of the total estimated value of regulated procurements expected to commence in the next two financial years according to annual procurement reports. Central government continues to report the highest total estimated value of £7.6 billion (n=25), with the local government sector reporting the next highest value at £5.1 billion (n=25).

Source: 2023 to 2024 annual procurement reports

Base: n=110. Including all respondents who inserted a numerical value including (0) but excluding those entries which are blank or "N/A"

9.3 Nature of future regulated procurements

Below are some examples of the types of goods, works and services different public bodies reported they expect to procure in the next two years.

• Central government: leadership development programme, translation and transcription services, HR systems, legal services, supply and delivery of building materials, and CCTV System Maintenance.
• Health: Hospital lease vehicle, foot and ankle equipment, endobronchial ZEPHYR valves (pulmonary valves), radiotherapy framework, supply of defibrillators, adult orthotic footwear, fire and security maintenance, Community Wellbeing Advisors, and translation services.
• RSLs: construction of new office buildings, window and door replacements, lift maintenance services, and landscape maintenance.
• Local government: North of Scotland electric vehicle charging infrastructure initiative, term contract for maintenance and repair of fire alarm and intruder alarm systems, treasury management consultancy services, provision of independent advocacy services, support services for young people at risk of harmful substance use, and supply of school uniforms.
• Universities and colleges: classrooms and laboratories upgrades, student counselling service, provision of anti-virus software, waste services, researcher development programme, provision of sports clothing, 3D scanners and associated equipment, and fire alarm maintenance.