2.23 Many departments have been seeking to improve the transparency of contract opportunities for example by using Contracts Finder or doing more pre-market engagement supplier roadshows. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, part of the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), uses a range of initiatives including:
• simplifying and standardising procurement requirements;
• holding regional and national supplier events to help providers link up; and
• running an SME mentoring scheme.
This has corresponded with an increase in indirect SME spending across the DECC group from 13.5% in 2011-12 to 17.8% in 2014-15.