There were no declarations of interest of transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Executive Sub-committee held on 20 March 2026.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel which provided an overview of the recent Customer Satisfaction Survey issued to Corporate Procurement Officers within Councils in relation to Scotland Excel’s Contract Delivery Plan process. A summary of the survey results formed Appendix 1 to the report.

DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel which provided an overview of developments within the shared services landscape and how they might impact Scotland Excel. 

The report provided detail on the Public Sector Reform Strategy for Scotland, published by the Scottish Government in June 2025, which aimed to build on the Christie Commission report on the future delivery of public services, published in 2011; and the establishment of Public Services Delivery (Scotland) on 1 April 2026, following Scottish Government agreement in June 2025 to merge the two NHS shared service organisations, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Educational Services Scotland (NES). 

The report advised that the proposed Public Service Reform Strategy underpinned an ambitious reform programme and that Scotland Excel believed it could play a valuable role on behalf of local government within discussions on the future collaborative procurement and shared services. Scotland Excel had facilitated discussions with senior officers to clearly identify what local government wanted and needed from collaborative procurement and shared services, now and in the future, which was delivered at a seminar with SOLACE branch members on 23 April 2026.

DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted and that ongoing discussions with members as the Scottish public sector shared service landscape developed be supported.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to the award of a fifth-generation framework for the Supply Only and Supply and Distribution of Frozen Foods for a period of 48 months. It was noted that subject to approval and completion of a standstill period, it was intended that the renewal framework would commence on 1 July 2026. 

The report advised that as part of the strategy development and through consultation with the User Intelligence Group (UIG), it was agreed tht the current lotting structure would be retained, therefore the framework contained three lots, as detailed in Table 1 of the report. The report summarised the outcome of the procurement process and advised that the framework had been advertised with an estimated total value of £42.5 million per annum, equating to a spend of £170 million over the four-year period. Appendix 1 to the report detailed the participation, spend and savings summary for those participating in the framework. 

Tender responses had been received from 12 tenderers and a summary of the offers received and the scoring achieved by each tenderer was detailed in Appendix 2 to the report. Based on the evaluation undertaken, and in line with the advertised criteria and weightings set out in the report, it was recommended that a multi-supplier framework arrangement be awarded (in whole or in part) to 11 suppliers, as outlined in Appendix 2 to the report, subject to satisfactory conclusion of insurance checks and any on-going clarifications. 

The report detailed the approach taken by suppliers in relation to fair work practices and their position on the payment of the Real Living Wage together with the other benefits that would be achieved through the framework. The report intimated that, in accordance with Scotland Excel’s established contract segmentation tool, the framework had been classified as class B.

In relation to Appendix 2 to the report, it was noted that Downies of Whitehills was located in Aberdeenshire and not Aberdeen as stated.

DECIDED: That the award of the framework agreement for the Supply Only and Supply and Distribution of Frozen Foods, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to the award of the new framework for the Supply and Delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), First Aid Materials and Workwear for a period of 48 months. .This framework combined two current Scotland Excel frameworks for the Supply and Delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including Pandemic Recovery Items and Workwear and Delivery of First Aid Materials. It was noted that subject to approval and completion of a standstill period, it was intended that the framework would commence in June 2026. 

The report advised that as part of the strategy development and through consultation with the User Intelligence Group (UIG), the framework contained 10 lots, as detailed in Table 1 of the report. The report summarised the outcome of the procurement process and advised that the framework had been advertised with a total value of £80 million over the four-year term, equating to a spend of £20 million per annum. Appendix 1 to the report detailed the participation, spend and savings summary for those participating in the framework. 

Tender responses had been received from 47 tenderers and a summary of the offers received and the scoring achieved by each tenderer was detailed in Appendix 2 to the report. Based on the evaluation undertaken, and in line with the advertised criteria and weightings set out in the report, it was recommended that a multi-supplier framework arrangement be awarded (in whole or in part) to 30 tenderers, as outlined in Appendix 2 to the report, subject to satisfactory conclusion of insurance checks. 

The report detailed the approach taken by suppliers in relation to fair work practices and their position on the payment of the Real Living Wage together with the other benefits that would be achieved through the framework. The report intimated that, in accordance with Scotland Excel’s established contract classification tool, the framework had been classified as class D.

DECIDED: That the award of the framework agreement for the Supply and Delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), First Aid Materials and Workwear, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to an update on the Risk Register maintained to monitor risks that could impact the delivery of Scotland Excel’s strategic objectives and which set out the ongoing controls and actions underway to control identified risks. A copy of the Risk Register as of March 2026 was appended to the report. 

The report intimated that currently there were 14 risks identified ranging in evaluation score from 6 to 20 and that each risk was reported within the register using a template which summarised the key components of each risk. 

DECIDED: That the Risk Register be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel which highlighted the risk associated with the fee setting process for 2026/27 within the national adult social care contracts and seeking support for Scotland Excel’s recommendations for implementation.

The report provided detail in relation to the national approach to fee setting; the 2025/26 feee setting process for care and support services; the proposed approach for 2026/27 in relation to the National Care Home Contract, the Care and Support Services Flexible Framework Agreement, the Care Homes for Adults and Residential Rehabilitatin (Alcohol and Drugs) Flexible Frameworks; and the risks and benefits of the approaches detailed in the report.

The report intimated that Scotland Excel proposed to apply a new approach to fee setting for 2026/27 across the national adult social care portfolio and take a varied approach allowing commissioners commercial control of fees for localised care and support services, whilst maintaining the exceptional fee variation process at a national level for residential services.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the content of the report and the risks highlighted be noted;

(b) That the recommendation that a varied fee review process be implemented within national adult social care contracts be supported; and

(c) That ongoing participation in the national social care contracts be supported to ensure maximum benefit is realised from collaboration for all parties.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Executive Sub-committee would be held at 9.30 am on 15 May 2026.