The Government has launched an on-line procurement course called “Winning the Contract”. The course is a free resource to help businesses (and in particular SMEs) learn about public procurement and how to bid for public sector contracts. The course can be accessed via the Business Link website.
The course introduces businesses to the key procurement processes, including:
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Identifying the advantages and disadvantages of dealing with public bodies
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Understanding how different types of contracts are defined, advertised and dealt with
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Understanding approved supplier lists and framework agreements
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Searching for and finding public sector opportunities
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Identifying the key stages in the tendering process.
It also has a useful resource section, case studies, and a hints and tips download.