Public body procurement reports and strategies 2023 to 2024: analysis

10. Conclusion

This analysis provides a summary of Scottish public bodies’ annual procurement reports and strategies for the 2023 to 2024 financial year. This report was drafted to support the production of the “Minister’s report on procurement activity in Scotland” for the 2023 to 2024 financial year. The 2014 Act requires the Minister’s report to include information on:

(a) regulated procurements that have been completed,

(b) community benefit requirements that contracting authorities consider were fulfilled,

(c) steps taken to facilitate the involvement of supported businesses in regulated procurements (Scottish Government, 2014).

According to information provided in the 124 annual procurement reports analysed (100%, n=124), 5,819 regulated contracts were awarded during the financial year, worth a reported combined total of £11.5 billion (n=124).

With reference to general duties placed on public bodies in the 2014 Act, steps taken to address the duty of transparency were described in 120 strategies (96%, n=125) and 120 annual procurement reports (96%, n=125). Additionally, nearly all of the 2023 to 2024 procurement strategies (123, 98%, n=125) addressed compliance with the general duties of equal treatment and non-discrimination.

Regarding the Sustainable Procurement duty, approaches to facilitating the involvement of SMEs were described in 122 strategies (98%, n=125) and 113 annual procurement reports (90%, n=125). Additionally, 91% (114, n=125) of annual procurement reports described steps taken by the public body to facilitate the involvement of supported businesses in their procurement activity.

Public bodies highlighted the diverse range of ways in which they had facilitated the involvement of SMEs, third sector organisations, supported businesses and social enterprises in their procurement activities. Some example activities provided in annual procurement reports included: joining frameworks and professional forums to identify future procurement opportunities with supported businesses; using PCS and Quick Quotes; engaging through the Supplier Development Programme, and participating in Meet the Buyer events.

In terms of Community Benefits, a total of 120 annual procurement reports (97%, n=124) included information on the number of regulated contracts awarded with a value of £4 million or greater that contained community benefit requirements. Ninety-eight annual procurement reports (78%, n=125) provided details of the community benefits that were actioned as a result of the public bodies’ regulated contracts. The most common types of community benefits reported were: apprenticeships (64, 65%, n=98), charitable donations/fundraising (55, 56%), work placements (52, 53%), other employment related activity (e.g. careers talks at schools/universities) (50, 51%), and training and qualifications (48, 49%).

In relation to the Scottish Government’s fair work policies, 115 annual procurement reports (92%, n=125) contained evidence that regulated procurement activity had been delivered in accordance with the principles of Fair Work First. Additionally, 111 annual procurement reports (90%, n=124) contained information on the number of regulated contracts awarded containing a scored Fair Work criterion.

Concerning value for money, 121 annual procurement reports (94%, n=125) included content on approaches to achieving value for money in the public bodies’ procurement activities.

Finally, on the subject of future procurement activity, a total of 120 annual procurement reports (97%, n=124) detailed the number of regulated procurements expected to take place in the next two years.