Scotland Excel has gone live with its latest Vehicle and Plant Hire framework to help council fleet and roads departments source the vehicles and equipment they need.

The fifth-generation framework lists 76 suppliers based in the UK and Ireland. This includes 57 classified as SMEs, including 14 micro-businesses. All suppliers have agreed to fixed pricing for the first 12 months of the framework.

The framework will facilitate car, van, specialist vehicle and plant equipment hire for Scottish councils. It’s divided into 12 lots:

• Hire of cars and light vehicles
• Hire of minibuses and buses
• Hire of commercial vehicles
• Hire of refuse collection vehicles
• Hire of sweepers
• Hire of gritters
• Hire of plant: excavation equipment
• Hire of plant: road surfacing equipment
• Hire of plant: lifting equipment
• Hire of grounds maintenance equipment
• Hire of specialist equipment
• Hire of drainage equipment

Councillor John Shaw, convener of Scotland Excel, said the framework will give Scottish councils and other public organisations the support they need to efficiently source the hire of vehicles and plant equipment.

“This is vital to the effective operation of fleet and roads departments, helping them respond to seasonal or intermittent demand.

“The framework will also bring significant opportunities for the businesses that have secured a place on the framework, including 57 SMEs, with the chance for them to secure a share of the business.”

In terms of social benefits, all 76 suppliers are committed to delivering community benefits through the framework, while 64 pay the Real Living Wage.

For suppliers, the framework creates opportunities to share in an estimated £120m of public sector spend over the next four years.