Mixed-up messages
28 August 2008 | Steve Bagshaw
By Jake Kanter
In our web story this week Public sector tenders 'confuse' suppliers, we revealed that the methods some government buyers are using to advertise contracts is causing "confusion" among suppliers.
The use of national websites, including supply2.gov and CompeteFor, as well as regional and service-specific sites means vendors are unsure where best to find contract notices.
When you consider that the purpose of these websites is to make tenders more accessible, I think it is slightly ironic that there is a level of uncertainty among suppliers.
Do you think there are too many websites displaying business opportunities?
What strategy do you use to advertise contracts online?
![[Bloglines]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[del.icio.us]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Google]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Twitter]](http://blog.supplymanagement.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
Public sector senior procurement staff met with the OGC (office of government commerce) at the HM treasury this month to discuss this issue as well as other methods to aide SME’s to get into public procurement, the risks, the challenges etc. Part of the conclusion and echoed recommendation from the OGC is that a single portal (that’s free to use by all) should be supplied to the public sector. There was also the agreement that a standardised PQQ would be developed, information will be saved on the portal to prevent duplication by suppliers. This is a known issue in public sector procurement which the OGC are working to correct.