Glasgow 2014, the organising committee behind the Games, is currently inviting private security firms to apply for more than £10 million of work.
However, last night there were calls for Glasgow 2014 to boycott G4S to prevent a second fiasco.
With the army and police forced to fill in for thousands of missing G4S staff at Olympic venues around the UK, the security company last week announced it was abandoning its plans to bid for work at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Grilled by MPs, chief executive Nick Buckles said G4S had given up on the Rio de Janeiro games because the problems supplying staff to London 2012 had left its reputation "in tatters".
However the firm, which in January took over from Reliance as the contractor escorting prisoners around Scotland, refused to rule out bidding for work at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Now the Sunday Herald can reveal that G4S has, in fact, had its eye on Glasgow for some time.
An internal G4S document from May confirmed the 2014 event was a global "market opportunity" for the firm, which claims to be the world's "leading security solutions group".
Hospitality registers from Glasgow 2014 show that G4S has been one of the most persistent companies trying to court top staff.
In October 2010, G4S invited Glasgow 2014 chief operating officer David Grevemberg to the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales.
The following June, G4S tried to invite Grevemberg, plus a companion, to Wimbledon.
And in January this year, G4S Secure Solutions offered to take Grevemberg to an Olympic reception and dinner with British track star, Mo Farah.
All the invitations were declined.
However, just last week, Glasgow 2014 issued tender documents inviting companies to bid for at least £10m of work providing stewards and security equipment.
The first contract, valued at £5m, is for "private contract security" and "event safety stewards" at venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. The second contract, also for £5m, is for physical security systems, such as scanners, perimeter fencing, CCTV, alarms, security lighting and "hostile vehicle mitigation" – the latest jargon for barriers and bollards.
Glasgow 2014 also says it wants "radiological detection systems" in order to guard against radioactive material such as a dirty bomb.
Glasgow Tory councillor David Meikle said G4S should be disqualified after its false start.
"After the shambles at the Olympics, I think the Commonwealth Games organisers shouldn't touch this security firm with a javelin pole. G4S have shown themselves to be incompetent. We should also avoid similar security firms with stained reputations."
MSP Patricia Ferguson, Labour's culture spokeswoman, said: "I would be very cautious about any future involvement they might hope to have in bidding for the Commonwealth Games."
Although Glasgow 2014 is in charge of hiring guards, overall responsibility for security lies with the Scottish Government, which is footing two-thirds of the £523m bill for the Games.
G4S is also in contact with Scottish ministers.
In June 2010, a representative of G4S Secure Solutions (UK) Ltd met Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, according to official registers. Four months later, MacAskill's deputy, Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing, also attended a "G4S 75th anniversary celebration event".
G4S recently signalled its interest in helping to run Scotland's new single police force, which comes into being next April.
Replying to a consultation on the merger of the existing eight forces, G4S said it was a chance for "stronger partnership working between police and private sector". The firm suggested it could take over backroom duties and supply temporary staff for major incidents.
It said: "It is time to set aside 'us' and 'them' attitudes that have stifled innovation in the police sector for far too long. Genuine partnerships between police and private sector need to be encouraged."
A spokeswoman for Glasgow 2014 said: "Two years out from the Commonwealth Games, we are in the early stages of procuring our security provision.
"Procurement regulations do not allow the organising committee to prevent compliant organisations from submitting bids."
G4S said it was currently focused on the London Olympics and "unable to confirm" its future plans.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Glasgow 2014 organising committee is responsible for procuring the security provision for the Commonwealth Games. Companies bidding for contracts will be considered on their merits and assessed in line with detailed tendering procedures."
G4S manager in charge of security at Scottish events resigns
A SENIOR G4S manager in charge of security around Olympic events in Scotland has resigned amid worsening staff problems, it emerged last night.
It is understood the deputy security manager for Scotland left on Friday, the same day Strathclyde Police announced it was taking over security from G4S because of the firm's failure to meet its commitments.
Rest days for 200 officers were cancelled after what insiders called a "catastrophic" week for G4S.
G4S said the unnamed manager held an overview role looking after security at the sole Olympic venue in Scotland, Hampden Park in Glasgow, and the team hotels, but "felt the situation was becoming intolerable".
Kenny Graham, head of Olympic security for G4S in Scotland, said the person had now been replaced.
G4S has seen its reputation and share price plummet over the Olympic fiasco, with chief executive Nick Buckles admitting its failure to supply enough guards for its £280 million contract was a "humiliating shambles".
In a sign of confusion within G4S, at the same time police were replacing the firm in Scotland, Eric Alexander, managing director of regional security at G4S, issued a statement to the Sunday Herald saying: "We are confident we have the levels of staff required in place to manage the Games venues in Scotland."
Hampden will host five women's and three men's football games between July 25 and August 3.
Around 760 specialist Scottish police officers, including firearms experts and dog handlers, are also being deployed at Games events in London and Dorset.
SALMOND'S LONDON DELEGATION
First Minister Alex Salmond will lead a trade delegation to London this week as the world's attention turns towards the capital for the start of the 2012 Olympics.
The mission aims to exploit the global interest in the Games by showcasing Scottish industries and promoting investment in the country.
A special facility on Pall Mall, dubbed Scotland House, will host more than 40 formal and informal events to help promote what the country has to offer to a global audience.
Salmond will be joined by Shona Robison, the Minister for the Commonwealth Games and Sport; Finance Secretary John Swinney; External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop; and Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead, as part of the "extensive programme of engagement".
Swinney said: "The Scottish Government and our enterprise agencies are working tirelessly to secure new jobs and investment to Scotland – the 2012 Olympics provide a good opportunity to showcase Scotland's strengths on an international stage."
The First Minister will launch Scotland House and a programme of events towards the end of the week. He will also represent Scotland at the Olympics' opening ceremony on Friday evening, and Swinney will meet international businesses and diplomats at the Olympics Global Investment Conference on Thursday.
TORCH AT THE SQUARE
THE Olympic torch may have survived the British weather to reach London but will it be able to withstand the clutches of the infamous Mitchell clan on EastEnders?
Tomorrow the flame will visit the imaginary London borough of Walford, setting for BBC1's soap, EastEnders.
The flame will make an appearance on a special live edition of the soap, carried by Perry Fenwick, who plays Billy Mitchell.
Fenwick claims he will be channelling sprinter Usain Bolt. He said: "I watched a documentary on him the other day and he's inspired me."
Yesterday, the torch arrived in the host city to great fanfare as Royal Marine Commando Martyn Williams held it while abseiling 180ft down the Tower of London.
