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NHS Education for Scotland

A skilled and sustainable workforce for a healthier Scotland

FAQs

Why does NES need to go out to tender?

As a public sector organisation it is important that NES obtains best value for money when buying goods, works and services. Inviting companies to submit competitive quotes or tenders helps ensure that public money is spent in a way that is fair, open, honest and accountable.

What will the tendering process involve?

NES uses the Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) to advertise tender opportunities and may use the Quick Quote function in PCS for opportunities less than £25,000. NES may also use the Public Contracts Scotland - Tenders (PCS-T) website to run our tender exercise. We recommend that you register on both sites.

Any opportunity over the EU threshold (£106,047) will be advertised on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and PCS/PCS-T

What will the tender documentation look like?

Please see our Templates page for examples of our procurement documents

How long will the tendering process take?

It will depend on the scale and complexity of the individual tender, however most tenders normally take a few months. Tenders advertised within OJEU can take up to 6 months.

How will my tender be evaluated?

NES is committed to ensuring that the tender evaluation process is as open and transparent as possible. Details of the evaluation criteria used will be included with the documentation provided.An evaluation panel will have been established at the outset of the tender process, typically consisting of 3-6 members. In addition to written submissions, bidders who make it through to the final stage may be required to attend an interview, give a presentation and answer questions.

How will I find out if I have been successful?

Successful bidders will be notified as soon as possible after a decision has been made. Details of the award of contract will be posted through PCS.

Can I receive feedback if I have been unsuccessful?

Unsuccessful bidders may request feedback from NES as to why their bid was not successful and what points were lacking. We aim to provide constructive feedback that will help you improve future bids and increase your chance of success in the future.

Do you have an Approved Suppliers' List?

No. We do use some framework agreements, a list of these is available on the Public Contracts Scotland website.

Further Questions

Should you have a question regarding NES` procurement processes that is not answered here please email: tenders@nes.scot.nhs.uk