The government has scrapped a fee for subscribing to its supply2.gov.uk portal, a website which lists short-term vacancies in the public sector. It previously cost contractors £180 per annum to subscribe.
Contractors have been advised to now use this website portal to search for government contracts.
The move follows recommendations in the Glover Review of November 2008, which showed that many public sector buyers were missing out on savings as too few small-to-medium enterprises could access the contracts.
Economic secretary to the Treasury, Ian Pearson, stated; “Small and medium sized businesses are a crucial part of the UK economy and in these challenging times it is essential that we support them in as many ways as possible. By introducing a free to use national search service we are helping to create a level playing field on which small to medium enterprises (SMEs) can compete with their larger counterparts. This will realise benefits for SMEs, the economy as a whole, and help drive further innovation in public services.”
Matt Goodman, a policy representative for the Forum for Private Business (FPB) said that this new measure should help save more small firms from closure and provide a catalyst for economic recovery.
By 2010, the government aims to advertise all contract opportunities through one, free online web portal.
it would be better if government can manage one website that points to all available contracts.
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