Public sector purchasing group LHC has said the Scottish government’s Procurement Reform Bill will meet its objective.

LHC provides advice and construction procurement framework arrangements across the UK.

John Skivington, LHC Director, welcomed the reforms.

He said: "The one size fits all approach just doesn’t work and regulation is needed to ensure the procurement process is open, fair and transparent.

"At the moment the process is too complicated - procurers are having to go to greater lengths, with the 2009 regulations adding complexity to legal compliance. There is real scope for greater standardisation of PQQs and we need to maximize the use of single electronic tender portals like Public Contracts Scotland, which has proven to be very effective."

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But Mr Skivington warned the reforms must ensure the process is more outcome focused rather than process driven.

He said: "The focus on selection criteria is long overdue and is key to fairness, openness and transparency.

"Procurers need to be able to select criteria relevant to them and we need a degree of flexibility in the criteria you can use.

"There is also an onus when spending public money to ensure that it is contributing to the local economy through the community benefit clause - however there is no current requirement to procure locally.

"The reforms must provide greater clarity on the clause as it is very vague and difficult to enforce within the current regulations."

(IT)