Public Procurement and Property

Public Contracts Scotland – making Third Sector organisations more visible

June 11, 2025 by Ray Knox No Comments | Category Public Contracts Scotland, Scottish Procurement, Third sector

Recent improvements to Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) make it easier for third sector organisations to identify themselves on the platform and for buyers to search for them. Whether you’re a third sector organisation looking to expand your reach or a public sector buyer seeking to maximise social value, these changes create new pathways to partnership that benefit Scottish communities.

What’s changed on Public Contracts Scotland?

PCS now features several valuable updates designed to make it easier to identify third sector suppliers.

For Third Sector organisations:

• simplified registration process – you can now easily identify yourself as a third sector organisation when registering on PCS
• enhanced visibility – your organisation becomes searchable by buyers specifically looking for third sector suppliers

For Public Sector buyers:

• improved search capabilities – find third sector suppliers using straightforward search functionality within the supplier finder directory
• Quick Quote integration – easily include third sector organisations in your tender opportunities
• better data collection – enhanced tracking and reporting of third sector engagement across public procurement

These improvements support Action 8 of the Scottish Government’s SME and Third Sector Procurement Action Plan to enhance third sector data from supplier finder on PCS to facilitate search functionality. These improvements help public bodies to fulfil their responsibility to consider how their procurement processes can facilitate the involvement of third sector bodies under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Sustainable Procurement Duty.

Why this matters for Third Sector organisations

Registering on PCS as a third sector supplier and setting up a Supplier Finder profile will increase the opportunities for third sector organisations to access stable, long-term income through bidding for public sector contracts:

Access new revenue streams

• move beyond traditional grant funding to more sustainable contract-based income
• access and bid for opportunities ranging from small Quick Quotes under £50,000 to larger contracts
• build long-term relationships with public sector buyers across Scotland

Showcase your impact

• highlight your community connections and specialist expertise
• demonstrate how your organisation delivers both services and social value
• stand out to buyers who are actively seeking third sector partners

Expand your reach

• connect with public sector buyers you may not have reached before
• increase visibility across different local authorities and public bodies

Why this matters for Public Sector buyers

Working with third sector organisations provides unique advantages:

• community reinvestment – profits flow back into Scottish communities rather than to shareholders
• local employment opportunities – many third sector organisations create jobs for people facing barriers to employment
• specialist expertise – deep understanding of community needs and innovative approaches to complex challenges
• built-in social impact – your procurement budget automatically delivers wider social returns

Practical Day-to-Day benefits

• streamlined supplier discovery – finding relevant third sector organisations is quick and straightforward
• simplified compliance – meeting sustainable Procurement Duty requirements becomes more accessible
• better reporting capabilities – improved data helps demonstrate social value outcomes more effectively
• broader supplier diversity – access to a wider range of suppliers enhances competition and value

Taking action:

Next steps for Public Sector organisations

1.  Register on PCS if you haven’t already
2.  Use the new third sector identifier when completing your registration
3.  Create or update your supplier finder profile – this is your searchable company profile highlighting the goods and services you provide
4.  Complete all relevant sections to maximise your visibility to buyers
5.  Press publish to make your profile live

Maximise your success:

• clearly articulate your social impact alongside your service delivery capabilities
• highlight any specialist knowledge or community connections
• keep your profile updated with recent achievements and expanded services

Next steps for Public Sector buyers

1.  Go to the Supplier Finder directory through the Buyer Control Panel or Quick Quote distribution page
2.  Use the ‘Search and Filter’ option to search the directory
3.  Refine results using the 3rd Sector Organisations tick box filter
4.  Enter your search parameters and click ‘Search’

Integrate Third Sector engagement:

• consider including third sector suppliers in your Quick Quote distributions
• build relationships with local third sector suppliers to understand their capabilities
• share knowledge about the updated functionality with colleagues and procurement teams

Support and resources

For Third Sector organisations:

• How You Can Engage with Public Procurement in Scotland available on Procurement Journey
• access user guides and videos on Public Contracts Scotland
• Follow CEIS Group on LinkedIn for updates and training opportunities

For Public Sector buyers:

• share the changes through your internal communication channels
• develop relationships with third sector suppliers in your area
• provide feedback on how the changes are working for your organisation

Contact us for support:

• James Finnie
• Claire McLaughlin

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For further information on public procurement in Scotland please visit www.gov.scot/procurement

Please email enquiries to scottishprocurement@gov.scot

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Tags: PCS, procurement news, supplier

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