Launch nears for sub-contracts portal

The coalition government's promise to make it easier for micro businesses to get hold of lucrative state contracts could be realised from as early as next month.



Reports claim the successor to the 'supply2gov' website will go live in September - two months before the formally announced implementation date of December.



That would mean that, before the year-end, small firms potentially feeling the squeeze of budget constraints could get much-needed free access to contracts worth £10,000.



Higher value deals, with tender documents worth more than £25,000, would follow, in order to meet the target of allocating 25% of all state contracts to small businesses.



Although the precise terms and values remain under wraps, the trend of state bodies outsourcing to cut costs should provide the smallest of firms with lower value deals.



"We know that many small businesses find public procurement processes burdensome and in some cases completely off-putting," the Department of Business said.



"The government will seek to simplify and streamline the procurement process, increase transparency and make it easier for SMEs to find out about public sector opportunities, including sub-contracting opportunities."