Scottish Marketing Services framework delayed for second time following appeals
The Scottish Marketing Services Framework has been delayed for a second time following appeals made by some of the tendering agencies.
The Drum has learned that agencies who have made the framework were informed that the announcement of the final rosters had been delayed for a second time in the space of a month, and is now expected to be released at midnight on Wednesday 17 April.
At the time of writing the Scottish Government had confirmed the postponement but had not explained why it had been made. It is likely to be due to the potential legal action it faces from Tangible and Newhaven over their absence on separate rosters – while rumours that they have queried the numbers supplied by the procurement team were not denied by the Government when approached.
Insiders have also questioned the role played by the procurement team, which is enforced under EU legislation.
The framework was to be announced in March, but following the appeals, were delayed until today (10 April).
Only agencies who have failed to make the framework have been supplied with the list of successful agencies for the specific discipline for which they tendered.