The procurement process spans the whole cycle from identification of needs, through to the end of a services contract. Procurement policy is in place to ensure the Council is fair and accountable in its dealings with contractors and suppliers and that best value is achieved.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is bound by the  Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012 [390kb] and is committed to ensuring compliance with that legislation.

We follow our own  Procurement Standing Orders [264kb] which are used to set clear rules for the procurement of goods, works and services.  The rules should ensure that the Council complies with its legal obligations and is fair and accountable in its dealings with contractors and suppliers and ensure that best value is achieved.

Review of Public Procurement

The Scottish Government as part of its Efficient Government initiative, has completed a review of public procurement.

The Review's terms of reference were to consider:

• Current structure and organisation of procurement activity
• Current skills and capability deployed on procurement
• Current practices and procedures
• Performance indicators and targets applied to procurement activity
• Ways to achieve efficiency improvements through greater collaboration
• Whether e-procurement techniques such as e-procurement Scotland and purchasing cards are being fully and effectively utilised
• Whether there is scope for the Gateway process to be further deployed across the public sector, to ensure that proper project management arrangements are in place for major procurement decisions
• What lessons can be drawn from experience elsewhere.

 The Review of Public Procurement in Scotland - Report and Recommendations [530kb] was published on Wednesday 15th March 2006 by the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform.

Procurement Governance and Compliance

Internal Audit completed a  review of procurement arrangements [135kb] within the Council. The objective was to check progress in responding to the recommendations of the McClelland Report and certain best practice standards.  In particular assurances were sought that the Council has met minimum governance and accountability requirements.

As part of its plan for 2007/8, Internal Audit completed a further  review of procurement compliance [114kb].

Scottish Procurement Directive Policy Notes

The Scottish Procurement Directorate ensures that up to date and accurate information is disseminated effectively and efficiently to the wider public sector by means of Scottish Procurement Policy Notes.

All Scottish Procurement Policy Notes are published on The Scottish Procurement Directorate's website. 

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