With a key tender worth at least £60,000 due to be issued later this year for the supply of fresh meat and fish across Argyll and Bute to schools, school hostels and social care units, Argyll and Bute Council is keen to explore alternatives to simply opting into a Scotland-wide procurement contract.

The fresh approach being piloted by the council is to discuss the opportunity with suppliers and distributors before the tenders are created in order to gain their input into how contracts could best be allotted by product and by region, and by supply and distribution, to support local and SME food producers. 

To facilitate these discussions, Argyll and Bute Council is hosting a Suppliers’ Forum on Tuesday 25th March 2014 in the Council Chambers at Lochgilphead and is urging any fresh meat or fresh fish suppliers or distributors to come along.

The focus of the event will be on outlining the opportunity, the procurement process and meeting suppliers and distributors interested in collaborating with each other.  The council buyers for this tender will be in attendance and available for questions.  The goal is to establish whether suppliers in the market are willing and able to work together to bid for this type of council contract. Also on hand will be Argyll and Bute's Business Gateway team to outline the free support available for businesses to help them enhance their tendering skills.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to come along and meet the council’s buyers for this contract and discuss the possibilities available to suppliers,” explained Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Dick Walsh.

“By encouraging local providers to explore collaborative bids for the forthcoming council contracts, and signposting the assistance available to help them do so, we hope to open the procurement opportunity out more widely."

The event will take place between 10am and noon at Kilmory Castle and the programme includes:

• Overview of the procurement process and the benefits of supplying the council
• Outline of the contract opportunity and the scope to do things differently
• Case study of an alternative approach
• Summary of the support available with procurement
• Question and answer session
• Networking and individual discussion

Anyone wanting to attend can book a place by contacting Elaine Appleby, Purchasing Officer, by 18th March 2014 either by email to Elaine.appleby@argyll-bute.gov.uk or telephone 01369 708594.