Foreword

Procurement plays a significant role in the delivery of our corporate goals, and we continue to leverage our influence as a procuring authority to deliver outcomes that are good for the people of Scotland, with a focus on the three missions of Equality, Opportunity and Community as set out in the Programme for Government 2023 -2024.

Transport Scotland's National Transport Strategy (NTS2) aligns with these three missions and presents the vision for Scotland’s transport system over the next 20 years, which is:

“We will have a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors”

The vision is underpinned by four priorities: to Reduce Inequalities, Take Climate Action, Help Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth and Improve our Health and Wellbeing. The NTS2 vision and priorities will form the basis upon which we take decisions and evaluate the success of Scotland’s transport policies going forward. Procurement will be key in delivering this vision.

The vision and objectives of NTS2 are also consistent with Scottish Government policy and the procurement priorities we made in our Transport Scotland Corporate Procurement Strategy 2022-2023. Our Annual Procurement Report for 2023 highlights how we delivered against these priorities, which support the Scottish Government’s goals and Public Procurement Priorities. In addition to funding allocated by grants and subsidies to public and private organisations, Transport Scotland’s spend on procured contracts during the financial year 2022-2023 was over £800 million. An important part of this (14%) was direct spend with Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Transport Scotland delivers many of its policies and priorities through its procurement activity, which in turn assists the Scottish Government in achieving the National Outcomes. Our vision for procurement is:

“To support the delivery of value for money, sustainable and innovative infrastructure and services in fulfilment of the Scottish Government’s ambition and vision for transport and Transport Scotland’s corporate commitments through a strategic and systematic approach to procurement.”

Our Annual Procurement Report 2023 sets out how we are providing value for money and ensuring compliance with our legal obligations to ensure sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible infrastructure. This supports Scottish Government’s vision of putting public procurement at the heart of a sustainable economy to maximise value for the people of Scotland. Transport Scotland continues to focus on placing sustainability at the heart of all of our procurement activity as we deliver on the priorities of the Scottish Government.

Alison Irvine
Interim Chief Executive
Transport Scotland