You should consider whether or not the commodity/service you are buying is capable of being catalogued or not.

This simple Guide to Making Content Decisions at the bottom of the Pecos Content Management page, will guide the buyer in the right direction. 

If the commodity/service you are buying is to be catalogued, this electronic content must be provided for the contract via Pecos Content Management (PCM) . 

Sometimes it is appropriate to build the ITT documents in a format where the evaluation is based on catalogue submission.  If this is the case, the Contract Notice or the invitation to confirm interest as a result of a Prior Information Notice (PIN) should detail this clearly. Further guidance is provided at the notification of contract award decision and the develop documents stages.

The key characteristics for each sub-commodity/service can now be identified and agreed by using the Key Commodity/Service Characteristics template.

Once you have identified the specific products and services, it is now important to consider their specific environmental or social characteristics.  

You should use labels (if they exist in your marketplace) that comply with these characteristics e.g. those relating to fair trade.  (Please note: note bidders should be allowed to offer other proof of compliance).

You should also consider whether you should include special conditions of contract relating to the performance of the contract.  This may cover:

• economic,
• innovation-related,
• environmental,
• social or
• employment-related conditions.

It is a legal requirement that each contract includes conditions which are reasonably necessary to ensure supplier compliance to environmental, social and employment law.  These laws must be linked to the subject matter of the relevant contract. These conditions of contract must be included in the procurement documents.

At this stage you may want to consider how the products/services are provided e.g. electronic purchase orders, purchasing card, consolidated invoices and self-billing.

If your procurement is of a Digital or ICT nature, consideration must be given to the Digital Public Services Scotland Programme. This strategy sets out the collective ambitions and national level actions at sector, cluster or organisational level.  Since this strategy release more Current Standards, Guidelines and Recommendations have been developed as outlined within the ICT High Level Operating Model.

Please refer to Example of Care and Support Services Service Tree found above (Residential Care).