Scottish Procurement Framework Agreement for the Supply of Natural Gas

Scottish Procurement is the organisation tasked with procuring commodities on behalf of all Scottish public bodies. Scottish Procurement is located within the Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate of the Scottish Government. The current framework agreement for the ‘supply’ of natural gas is due to expire on 31 March 2025. However, this framework agreement will commence 12 months prior, on 1 April 2024. This is to enable forward purchases of gas on the futures markets, up to 2½ years in advance of consumption. Work has commenced on developing the procurement strategy, including canvassing of stakeholders' views. As part of this, Scottish Procurement recognise the value of suppliers having the opportunity to contribute their views, in accordance with Regulation 41 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. The Framework Agreement will be available for use by the Scottish Ministers (including Agencies), Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies, offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices, cross- border public authorities within the meaning of section 88(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, the Scotland Office, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, councils constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, the Scottish Police Authority, Scottish health boards or special health boards, all NHS Scotland, The Integrated Joint Boards established further to the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Act 2014, bodies registered as social landlords under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Student Loans Company Limited, the Forestry Commission, the Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse operating as the Northern Lighthouse Board, Equality and Human Rights Commission, Business Stream Ltd, the Business Gateway National Unit at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, further or higher education institutions being fundable bodies within the meaning of section 6 of the further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament, any association of or formed by one or more of the foregoing, bodies financed wholly or mainly by one or more of the foregoing, bodies subject to management supervision by one or more of the foregoing and bodies more than half of the board of directors or members of which, or, in the case of a group of individuals, more than half of those individuals, being appointed by one or more of the foregoing. In addition to the contracting authorities listed, the framework agreement will be available to charities entered on the Scottish Charity Register and voluntary organisations entered on the Membership Database of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Information about Scottish Public Bodies is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/about Information about the Review of Public Procurement in Scotland and links to the other Centres of Expertise are available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Procurement The attached Request for Information is aimed at collating those views from anyone wishing to supply the Scottish public sector. The information gathered will be utilised in developing the Scottish public sector Supply of Natural Gas procurement strategy and any subsequent National Framework arrangements. No single submission will define the National Framework in its entirety but all responses will be used to inform the procurement strategy. To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=716691. Suppliers and other interested parties should read and complete the attached Request for Information document and return it to Procurement_Utilities@gov.scot by 10th February 2023.