New digital platform aims to help public sector procurement

A Fife software firm has developed a platform which will help Scotland’s public sector organisations identify and address how they can optimise the economic, social and environmental outcomes of their procurement.

The platform, developed by Cupar-based software consultancy Horisk Leslie Development for Scottish Procurement will assist Scotland’s public bodies embed sustainability requirements in their procurements.

Made live recently, the bespoke platform, developed over five months, replaces several offline Excel-based tools and is already being used by just under 100 procurement officials.

Horisk, which specialises in bespoke software systems to simplify using organisation processes, won the £61,000 contract through a competitive tender in one of the Scottish Government’s national frameworks designed to ensure best value and quality in privately-sourced services and products. Developers say using the tools in the new platform can help embed relevant social, economic and environmental requirements in public frameworks and contracts.

Director Brian Horisk said: “We’re delighted to have had another large public sector client – a directorate of the Scottish Government – select us to develop a key tool.

“It will be used by many organisations throughout Scotland to help us not only recover from the social, economic and environmental damage done by Covid-19 but also rebuild in a socially-inclusive and environmentally sustainable way so the benefits are enjoyed by all and help Scotland meet its climate goals.

“As someone committed to sustainable development, this has been a very satisfying project to use our specialism in bespoke software systems which simplify using organisation processes.

“It’s great to see it being adopted so widely already – allowing the benefits to be realised so soon.”