The Procurement Act 2023 is live: what changed for suppliers
On 24 February 2025 the Procurement Act 2023 came into force, replacing the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and reshaping how public bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland buy goods, services and works. (It had originally been planned for October 2024 and was put back to give buyers and suppliers time to prepare.) If you bid for public contracts, a few changes are worth understanding.
One flexible procedure replaces five
The old menu of rigid routes — open, restricted, competitive procedure with negotiation, competitive dialogue and innovation partnership — is gone. In its place are just two: a streamlined open procedure for straightforward needs, and a single competitive flexible procedure that lets buyers design a bespoke, single- or multi-stage process suited to what they are buying, with shortlisting, dialogue or negotiation built in as needed.
For suppliers this is the biggest day-to-day change: you can no longer guess the stages from the procedure's name — each buyer sets out their own. Read our full explainer on the competitive flexible procedure →
Transparency across the whole lifecycle
The regime is built around published notices at each stage — planning, tender, award, contract and performance. For suppliers that means more visibility of the pipeline ahead and of how contracts are actually performing, not just the moment a tender opens.
Tougher on poor performance
The Act strengthens the rules on exclusion and debarment, including a central debarment list, so that suppliers who fail to deliver or who pose serious risks can be kept out — intended to reward reliable suppliers.
A focus on value and small business
The Act and its accompanying National Procurement Policy Statement push value for money and explicitly aim to open public contracts to small businesses — a theme that runs through the wider reforms.
The changes at a glance
| Area | Before (PCR 2015) | Under the Procurement Act 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Tendering procedures | Five fixed procedures | Two: open + competitive flexible |
| The winning bid | Most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) | Most advantageous tender (MAT) |
| Supplier lists | Dynamic purchasing systems | Dynamic markets — join any time |
| Exclusions | Case-by-case, per buyer | Wider grounds + a central debarment list |
| Performance | Largely a private matter | Published KPIs and performance notices |
| Payment | No implied term | 30-day payment, down the supply chain |
| Registration | Re-enter details for every bid | Register once on the Central Digital Platform |
What to do
Get familiar with the new notice types and the single registration on the enhanced Find a Tender service, and make sure your business profile and accreditations are ready so you can respond quickly when a relevant tender appears.
Sources: GOV.UK — The Procurement Act 2023: a short guide for suppliers · GOV.UK — New public procurement rules (news)