News

Buyers from public bodies all over Tayside will gather in Dundee next week to meet businesses keen to bid for work.

The free Meet the Buyer event will give potential new suppliers the opportunity to talk informally about upcoming contracts, find out about tendering and the criteria for buying goods and services.

A wide range of goods and services are bought in by public bodies including personal care, building works, transport and catering.

Lynne Short convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “Procurement in local government is always evolving with contract opportunities being advertised daily.

“The aim of the event, at which contractors can just turn up without the need to register, is to introduce local firms and suppliers to the people involved in public sector procurement so that they can offer their help and guidance and we can get more local companies involved.”

Buying personnel from organisations including Angus, Dundee City, Fife and Perth & Kinross councils, NHS Tayside and universities will be at the Invercarse Hotel on Tuesday (February 27) between 10am and 2pm.

As well as free informal discussions which do not need to be booked there will also be short information sessions delivered throughout the day covering issues including support with the procurement process and understanding the public contracts Scotland website.

Major construction contractors including Robertson Construction, Hadden Group and Balfour Beatty Construction who are undertaking public sector contracts will also be at the event.

There will be breakout sessions with speakers from Public Contracts Scotland, Supplier Development Programme and local companies who have won contracts.