The following procurement guidance clarifies relevant practice throughout the procurement cycle in line with the Procurement Journey, highlighting specific opportunities and risks relating to employment, skills and training.
It is good practice to notify bidders of any particular contract performance requirements or any essential award criteria early in the process.
This can be done by publishing a Prior information notice in advance of the contract notice. This makes potential bidders aware that this will form part of the contract requirements from the outset, enabling them to take a view on whether they can satisfy the requirements.
This could include highlighting the public body’s employment, skills and training policy and other relevant policies, ambitions and objectives, or signposting to useful information sources such as the Fair Work Framework or Local Employability Partnerships, for example Edinburgh LEP. These can be included at the Additional Information section of the Contract Notice.
See the Annex for examples.
