Procurement activity: annual report 2023 to 2024

3. Future procurement activity

The 2014 Act states that public bodies must provide a summary of the regulated procurements expected to commence in the next two financial years in their annual procurement reports. This is important as it provides suppliers with advance notice of potential upcoming contract opportunities, increases transparency and enables those who are interested in bidding to plan ahead.

One hundred and twenty-one public bodies (97%, n=125) provided information about the total number of expected regulated procurements for the following two years in their 2023 to 2024 annual procurement reports. This amounted to a combined total of 6,484 regulated contracts (Scottish Government, 2026). Further, 110 public bodies (88%, n=125) provided data on the total value of those expected regulated procurements, totalling £15.5 billion (Scottish Government, 2026).

The different sectors of public bodies reported a variety of goods, services and works in their planned procurements. These included:

• 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 leased 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 (Scottish Government, 2026).