Public Contracts Scotland Supplier Profile Changes

The Scottish Government has simplified how third sector organisations can identify themselves on Public Contracts Scotland and made it easier for public sector buyers to find and engage with them. On this page, you can learn about the changes, and how to ensure your organisation is setup on PCS.

Key changes include:

Simplified third sector identifier on initial PCS registration
Enhanced ability for buyers to search for Third Sector Suppliers within the Quick Quote system
Better data collection for reporting and monitoring

The changes aim to increase third sector participation in public procurement and ultimately lead to increased year-on-year public sector spend with the third sector.

These changes support Action 8 of the SME and Third Sector Procurement Action Plan, which aims to enhance third sector data from the supplier finder on PCS to facilitate search functionality.

What is PCS?

Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) is the national procurement platform where Scottish public sector bodies advertise contract opportunities. Through PCS, suppliers can register their business, create supplier finder profiles, and access opportunities including Quick Quote requests (i.e. for any contract opportunities that are under £50,000) from public sector buyers. The platform plays a vital role in connecting public sector buyers with potential suppliers, including third sector organisations.

What has changed?

The updates to PCS include:

A simplified process for third sector organisations to identify themselves when registering
Enhanced search functionality allowing buyers to specifically find third sector suppliers
Integration of third sector identification within the Quick Quote system
Improved data collection to track engagement and impact

Why is this important?

These changes will help:

Make it easier for third sector organisations to register and be found on PCS
Enable public sector buyers to better identify and engage with third sector suppliers
Support increased participation of third sector organisations in public procurement
Generate better data on third sector engagement in public procurement

What action should third sector organisations take?

If you’re a third sector organisation:

Visit www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
If you are already registered, update your registration details by selecting that you are a third sector organisation. If you are not registered, when you do register be sure to select this.
Update or create your supplier finder profile to identify as a third sector organisation, and create a searchable company profile highlighting the goods and services you provide.
Complete all relevant sections of your supplier finder profile to maximise visibility.
Press publish.