Procurement at Forth Valley College
Forth Valley College is committed to value for money in all procurement activities, ensuring compliance with Procurement Legislation, the College’s Procurement Strategy, and Financial Regulations.
Our Procurement Service, led by the Director of Finance, manages procurement strategy, while day-to-day purchasing is handled by departments. The College does not operate an approved suppliers list but follows strict procurement processes for all goods, services, and works.
For purchases not covered by existing agreements, we adhere to specified procurement thresholds outlined in our procedures.
Forth Valley College Procurement Procedures
| Good & Services | |
|---|---|
| Less than £6,000 (incl. VAT) | 1 written quote |
| £6,000-£24,999 (incl. VAT) | 3 written quotes |
| £25,000 (incl. VAT) - £49,999 (ex. VAT) | Low Value Tender via PCS Quick Quote |
| £50,000 (ex. VAT) - Current relevant GPA threshold | National Lower Value Regulated Tender |
| Current relevant GPA threshold and over | Higher Value Regulated Tender |
| Works | |
|---|---|
| Less than £6,000 (incl. VAT) | 1 written quote |
| £6,000- £24,999 (incl. VAT) | 3 written quotes |
| £25,000 (incl. VAT) - £1,999,999 (ex. VAT) | Low Value Tender via PCS Quick Quote |
| £50,000 (ex. VAT) - Current relevant GPA threshold | National Lower Value Regulated Tender |
| Current relevant GPA threshold and over | Higher Value Regulated Tender |
Working with Forth Valley College
Use of APUC and other Collaborative Framework Agreements
As far as reasonably practical, and as a first port of call, the College utilises the wide range of collaborative Framework Agreements available to us via: APUC Ltd – the procurement centre of expertise for Universities and Colleges in Scotland
Other National and Sectoral Centres of expertise in Scotland, including Scottish Procurement
Other National and Sectoral Centres of expertise across the UK, including UK Government Procurement Service
Useful Information
Public Contracts Scotland Portal
Forth Valley College advertises all tender opportunities above £50,000 on Public Contracts Scotland (PCS), the national procurement advertising portal in Scotland. Any organisation interested in bidding for any such opportunities should register for free on the portal. In addition, we also use the PCS portal to advertise many opportunities below £50,000 via the Quick Quote functionality. Suppliers should ensure that they have registered on the portal and have completed their Supplier Profile to enable the College to select them for relevant opportunities.
Forth Valley College Contracts Register
In line with the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, the College is required to publish details of existing contracts it has in place on Forth Valley College's Contracts Register. Please Note: the following link direct you onto the APUC website, but the information relates specifically to Forth Valley College.
Forth Valley College Procurement Strategy
Annual Procurement Report
Forth Valley College Procurement Policy
Sustainable Procurement
Forth Valley College aims to carry out the procurement of goods, services and works in such a manner as to minimise any negative environmental, ethical, economic or social impact, and promote positive impacts and change, throughout the whole life cycle and supply chain, in order to fulfill current needs without lessening the ability of future generations to do the same. We comply with the Sustainable Procurement Duty and, where relevant, take into account climate impact, circular economy and fair work considerations in our procurement activities.
Supplier Development Programme
The Supplier Development Programme (SDP), a business support initiative delivered by Economic Development functions within each partner local authority, aims to help SMEs’ and third sector/supported businesses improve their performance in winning contracts in the public sector and the wider supply chain, through offering information, support and training events and to assist in navigating the complex tendering processes used in Public Sector procurement.
The training courses are aimed at helping those interested in bidding for public contracts in Scotland.
Forth Valley College Terms and Conditions
Forth Valley College has Standard Terms and Conditions for Goods and Services.
Download a copy of our Standard Terms and Conditions.
Privacy Notice - Tendering
Retention Policy Statement (June 2025)
Forth Valley College is committed to fair and transparent procurement practices in all construction projects. This policy outlines our approach to the use of cash retention in construction contracts, in line with Scottish Government guidance and Chapter 17 in Handbook 1 of the Client Guide to Construction Projects.
Policy Statement:
Retention will only be used where it is deemed necessary as part of a risk-managed project delivery strategy.
Where applied, retention will be:
- Proportionate to the value and risk of the works.
- Fairly administered, with clear terms for release.
- Time-limited, with prompt release upon satisfactory completion of works or agreed milestones.
If retention is applied in the future, the College will aim to reduce reliance on it over time and will consider alternative performance assurance mechanisms where appropriate.
This policy aligns with the Scottish Government’s aspiration to reduce or eliminate the use of retentions in public sector construction.
Review:
This policy statement will be reviewed annually by 31 August and updated as required.
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