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Accessibility

This accessibility statement applies to the Procurement Journey website (www.procurementjourney.scot).

This website is run by the Scottish Government. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.

You should be able to:

  • change colours, contrast levels and fonts
  • zoom in up to 400% without text being cut off
  • navigate most of the website using a keyboard
  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader

We also aim to use clear and simple language.

How accessible is this website

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible.

An independent accessibility audit carried out in September 2025 identified the issues listed below.

Navigation and menus

  • Some menus do not clearly tell screen reader users when submenus open or close.
  • Some expandable sections (accordions) cannot be reached or used with a keyboard.
  • Some expandable sections do not tell screen reader users whether they are open or closed.

Keyboard access

  • Some interactive elements do not show a clear focus indicator when using a keyboard.
  • Some content cannot be accessed using keyboard navigation alone.

Tables and layout

  • Some tables do not reflow properly when zoomed in.
  • Some tables do not use correct header markup, which makes them harder to understand with screen readers.
  • Some tables are used for layout rather than data.

Headings and structure

  • Heading levels are not always used in the correct order.
  • Some text looks like a heading but is not marked up as one.

Colour contrast

  • Some colour combinations do not meet minimum contrast standards.
  • Some icons and buttons are difficult to see against their background.

PDF documents and images

  • Some images in PDFs do not have clear alternative text.
  • Some icons may not be properly described to screen reader users.

Zoom and text resizing

  • Some content does not respond properly to browser text resizing.
  • Some content may be pushed off screen at high magnification.

What we are doing to improve accessibility

We are reviewing the issues identified in the September 2025 audit and prioritising improvements based on impact and severity.

We are currently working to:

  • make accordion and navigation components fully keyboard accessible
  • improve screen reader support in menus
  • correct heading structure and table markup
  • improve colour contrast
  • ensure tables reflow correctly when zoomed
  • improve alternative text in PDFs

Feedback and contact information

If you find any problems not listed on this page, or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please use our “contact us” webform.

We aim to respond within 10 working days.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

If you are not happy with how we respond, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

The Scottish Government is committed to making its websites accessible, in line with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the issues listed above.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on: 19 February 2026.

Testing was carried out using:

  • Microsoft Edge with JAWS
  • Microsoft Edge with ZoomText
  • Microsoft Edge with Dragon Professional 16

A representative sample of pages was tested.

The website was last tested in September 2025 by an independent accessibility specialist.

New Contract and Supplier Management Guidance is now available on the Procurement Journey

New Contract and Supplier Management (CSM) guidance is now available on the Procurement Journey, supporting Scottish public sector organisations to manage contracts effectively from mobilisation through to exit.

The guidance provides practical advice to help improve consistency, manage risk, and deliver better outcomes and value for money.

What’s new:

  • clear expectations for effective contract and supplier management
  • practical guidance covering key stages of the contract lifecycle, including new stations, case studies, FAQs, tools and templates
  • support for managing performance, relationships, change and exit
  • strong links to wider procurement policy and good practice
  • new Contract and Supplier Management Guidance for non-procurement staff

The guidance is designed to help organisations:

  • embed good contract management practices from the outset
  • strengthen supplier relationships and performance management
  • manage change, risk and issues in a consistent and proportionate way
  • support delivery of policy outcomes, including sustainability, fair work and community benefits

Find out more:

Users are encouraged to review the guidance and consider how it can support current and future contracts. 

If you have an enquiry or experience any issues, please contact: commercialcapability@gov.scot

Benchmarking

Benchmarking costs against the suppliers’ competitors is a recognised method of avoiding cost ‘creep’ and ensuring best value.

Benchmarking should be undertaken prior to and throughout the life of the contract. It can be used for:

  • ensuring incumbent suppliers remain competitive in the market
  • keeping abreast of the market rates
  • a negotiation tool for cost reductions

Step One – What to benchmark

Decide which spend category(s) you wish to perform the benchmarking exercise for.  

  1. Complete a spend analysis on what you have purchased in that area for at least the last 12 months (by line item)
  2. Sort the data from the highest to lowest spend (cumulative)
  3. Highlight the top 80 percent of the spend

This 80 percent will normally be no more than 20 percent of the number of line items. You now have a manageable amount of data to go out into the market place with.

This does not cover every aspect of the potential scope of supply.  In certain circumstances additional items may need to be added, such as bottle-neck and specialised items.  The aim is to gain an estimation of the market rates.

The incumbent supplier should be made aware that you are planning to perform a benchmarking exercise before you go out to the market place.

Step Two – Going to the market

Having selected the items you want to benchmark, you can now approach the market to understand the current prevailing costs.

Benchmarking is generally an informal process and the Management Information Hub is a good source of information, as is the internet. You can also contact a number of suppliers directly.  However it is important to ensure that these suppliers who receive requests for information understand that you are conducting a benchmarking exercise and that this is not a business opportunity. The request should be simple enough for the suppliers to provide the information without having to spend a great deal of time doing so.

Step Three – Results analysis

You are now ready to compare the results of your benchmarking exercise. To compare the results you could, for example, enter all prices into a spreadsheet and determine the price difference between the incumbent supplier's prices and the prevailing market rates. By doing this you can determine where the incumbent supplier(s) sit against the best, worst and average market rates.

 

Step Four – What next?

If you are happy with where the incumbent supplier’s pricing sits then the supplier is competitive and no further action needs be taken.

If you are not comfortable with where the incumbent supplier’s pricing fits, invite them to a meeting. Give them the opportunity to explain why they are not competitive against the current market rates. On no account should you divulge the competitors' names or pricing information.

If the supplier is willing to accept their prices are not in line with the market rate, this will be a relatively pain free cost reduction for you. If the supplier is unwilling to negotiate a reduction, you should initiate the escalation process.  Include this as an agenda item at the next Review Meeting.

Where benchmarking indicates that a supplier’s pricing is not aligned with prevailing market rates, this presents an opportunity to seek a cost adjustment in a transparent and constructive manner. Where the supplier is open to this discussion, an agreed price realignment may be achieved with minimal disruption. Where agreement cannot be reached, you may be able to work with the supplier in some way to reach an agreed price realignment, using methods such as open book costing, for example. 

If price realignment cannot be achieved, the matter may be be progressed in line with the contract’s escalation and governance arrangements and tabled as an agenda item at the next scheduled contract review meeting.

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