Glossary of Terms                     S

 

Schedule of rates 

Lists of jobs, like those in bills of quantities except that they contain no quantities. Rates may be inserted by tenderers, or by clients. In the latter case, tenderers specify their overall percentages on or off these rates.

 

Select list

A list of suitable prospective contractors, suppliers or service providers that has been drawn up through a shortlisting exercise for a particular contract or procurement activity.

 

Service Level Agreement (SLA) 

That part of a contract which specifies the services to be delivered. It has been practice for purchasers to enter into contracts based on Service Level Agreements which are in themselves contracts but do not set out full contractual terms, simply detailing the services to be delivered and minimal information such as contact details, addresses, etc. regarding the contractor.

 

Shared services 

Providing services as a combined or collaborative function which may share processes and technology. This may include bringing together support functions, often from geographically disparate areas, into a separate organisation.

 

Social Enterprise 

Organisations that deliver goods and services and make a profit (51% of its income must come from trading) but measure their success on the social impact and benefits they provide. Examples of social enterprises are Co-operatives, Mutual Building Societies.

 

Sourcing 

The process of establishing potential suppliers of specified works, goods or services.

 

SMEs 

Small and medium-sized enterprises, a term used to refer to smaller private sector companies with less than 250 employees.

 

Specification

A description of requirements and standards to which the goods, works or services should conform. Also known as a statement of needs, a statement of requirement, an operational requirement, or a brief. Its purpose is to present prospective suppliers with a clear, accurate and full description of the organisation’s needs, to enable them to propose a solution to meet them.

 

Stage payments 

An agreed percentage or part of the contract price, which is payable when specified stages of completion/delivery have been reached.

 

Stakeholder 

An individual or organisation that has an active interest or a stake in a particular organisation or issue. For example, funders, members, contractors, purchasers, trustees, beneficiaries, volunteers and paid staff are all stakeholders in a voluntary organisation.

 

Standing orders 

A Council’s rules and procedures that govern its activities, including procurement of goods, works and services.

 

Standstill period 

Following evaluation of all proposals and prior to completing the contract award, you must notify all suppliers of your intention to award the contract. This notification will incorporate the mandatory 10 day standstill period (also referred to as the Alcatel standstill).

 

Sub-contracting

The process where a contractor assigns part of the contract to another contractor(s).

 

Supplies 

Goods, either purchased or hired. Those that have a value exceeding the current threshold defined by the EU rules will be subject to the European tendering requirements. Standing orders may have different values covering works, services or supplies.

 

Supplies, works & services 

See individual definitions.

 

Supplier diversity 

Initiatives that aim to increase the number of ethnic minority-owned businesses that supply goods and services to both public and private sector organisations.

 

Supply chain 

Consists of businesses providing goods, works and services to a buyer. For example, a stationer’s supply chain will include its product suppliers, delivery firm, printing company, IT provider and cleaning contractor. Tier one of a supply chain is the main contractor who supplies direct to the buyer. A business that supplies to tier 1 is a tier 2 suppliers and any business that supplies to tier 2 is a tier 3 and so on.

 

Surety

See “Performance bonds”.

 

Sustainable procurement 

Sustainable procurement is using procurement to support wider social, economic and environmental objectives. It goes beyond green procurement to take account of social and economic issues.