News

Supplier Development Programme welcomes Scottish Government’s Digital connectivity ambition.

Procurement for delivering 100% superfast broadband access for Scotland will start within the next 12 months.  A Prior Information Notice (PIN) has been published on Public Contracts Scotland to provide potential suppliers with information on the project, with the intention to start procuring these contracts early next year.

The notice can be viewed at: publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Connectivity Fergus Ewing said:

“As announced in the Programme for Government, we are putting digital connectivity at the heart of our agenda and delivering 100% superfast broadband for Scotland by the end of the next Parliament is one of our priorities.

“Enhanced digital connectivity will improve the productivity of businesses and help to build economic growth in remote and rural areas, transforming the prospects for those who live there. We are making good progress, having met our interim target of 85% for the whole of Scotland six months ahead of schedule, but there is more we need to do to ensure we achieve our digital ambitions.

“The publication of the PIN  (9/9/16) is the latest step in achieving that ambition and I would encourage all potential suppliers to get involved to help shape our approach.”

 

Gillian Cameron, Programme Manager for the Supplier Development Programme (SDP) commented:

“SDP also welcomed the advancement of superfast broadband across Scotland. Enhanced digital connectivity will ensure those in rural communities can access our free webinars on a range of Tender Training  topics, providing advice on how to tap into the £10b public spend in Scotland”