Procurement Process Begins for The 2014 Ryder Cup

Businesses eager to be involved with The 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland will be able to tender for supplier contracts in a number of different categories after Ryder Cup Europe launched its official procurement portal today.

Ryder Cup Europe expects that around 5,000 people will be employed on projects directly related to the event, with many more likely to benefit through its supply chain*.

The 2014 Ryder Cup procurement portal will be hosted on the Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) website and includes contract opportunities across a range of requirements including security; transport; merchandising; catering and food supplies; waste management; barriers; fencing; telecommunications; portable offices; and other infrastructure-related areas.

Edward Kitson, Match Director for The 2014 Ryder Cup, said: “The Ryder Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious events and we are looking for suppliers whose products and services will enable us to create a truly memorable occasion at Gleneagles in 2014.

“The direct contracts we will offer and the associated benefits through the supply chain will provide a boost to businesses across the country.”

The PCS portal has 60,000 businesses already registered and Ryder Cup Europe is encouraging companies to use the portal to ensure they hear about new contract opportunities. Contracts will appear online gradually and will reflect the categories already available to existing registered businesses on PCS, ensuring as many potential suppliers as possible are aware of the different Ryder Cup opportunities.

Ryder Cup contracts will be awarded over the next 18 months and organisers expect the first contract to be awarded within the next three months.

Edward Kitson added: “The PCS portal will streamline our procurement processes and, importantly, give as many Scottish businesses as possible forewarning of the contracts on offer. We would love to hear from local suppliers who feel they have the right product quality and business infrastructure to become involved with the event.”

The Ryder Cup procurement portal is a joint initiative between Ryder Cup Europe, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. It is the first time that a series of private contracts will be available through what has been a public sector portal, and could pave the way for more private sector engagement with PCS.

Sport Minister Shona Robison said: “The Ryder Cup will bring enormous economic benefits to Scotland before, during and after the tournament. Public Contracts Scotland is now the single source of information for suppliers looking for public sector business, so I am pleased the public and private sector are working together to open up supply chain opportunities for Scottish firms to get involved in one of the biggest sporting events in the world.”

Jillian Moffat, head of the games legacy team at Scottish Enterprise, said: “This event gives Scottish companies the chance to demonstrate they can perform at a truly global level. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Ryder Cup Europe and PCS to establish this platform as the appropriate route to markets for opportunities arising from The 2014 Ryder Cup. We strongly recommend that businesses examine the PCS portal to ensure they take full advantage of all the prospects Ryder Cup Europe offers.”

Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce, commented: “This is an excellent opportunity for businesses across the UK, but particularly in Scotland. We can genuinely point to world class offerings in a variety of sectors and we encourage businesses to put themselves in contention. PCS is the right forum and we applaud Ryder Cup Europe’s transparency.”

Ryder Cup Europe is committed to delivering the most sustainable event possible, and will place a high priority on environmental, social and ethical issues when awarding contracts and procuring products and services. It invites all tendering companies to review the Ryder Cup Sustainable Procurement Code and to bring forward clear sustainability policies and established best practices as part of their submissions.