The competitive flexible procedure has been introduced by the Procurement Act 2023 to offer public sector buyers flexibility and choice in how they run their procurements. What is the competitive flexible procedure? The competitive flexible procedure (CFP) is a new way to run a procurement through competition. It is designed to give you more opportunity […]
Category Archives: Procurement Essentials
What is a dynamic market? How they work in the public sector
The Procurement Act 2023 has created a new form of commercial agreement called dynamic markets. These agreements provide new flexibilities and opportunities to public sector buyers. This article breaks down what a dynamic market is, how it benefits you as a buyer and how it differs from other forms of agreements. What is a dynamic […]
How open frameworks benefit public sector buyers
Under Public Contracts Regulations 2015 regulations, Government Commercial Agency (GCA – formerly CCS) framework agreements operated as ‘closed’ frameworks. This means that once a framework is awarded, no new suppliers are able to join that agreement to offer products, goods or services to public sector buyers. They normally remain closed for a maximum period of […]
What buyers need to know about the new National Procurement Policy Statement
The UK Government published a new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) which came into effect on 24 February 2025 alongside the Procurement Act 2023. This strategic statement lays out the key objectives public sector organisations should look to achieve when they spend public money through procurement. Contracting authorities must “have regard” to the NPPS when […]
Supplier assurance: having confidence in your suppliers
NB: This article was originally published on 20 February 2025. All information was correct at the time of writing, but may not be fully applicable following the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023. What is supplier assurance in procurement and why is it necessary? Most organisations rely upon suppliers to deliver products, systems, and services. […]
How to embed environmental criteria into your technology purchases
NB: This article was originally published on 30 January 2025. All information was correct at the time of writing, but may not be fully applicable following the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023. The UK public sector, from local authorities, hospitals and schools to central government, emergency services and universities, spends more than £393 billion […]
Legacy IT or the cloud?: digital transformation in the public sector
What are Legacy IT systems? Legacy IT refers to your organisation’s IT infrastructure and systems, their component software and hardware and related business processes. It becomes ‘legacy’ when the technology becomes: impossible to update expensive and no longer cost effective considered an end-of-life product Across government and the wider public sector, legacy IT systems are […]
How to remain compliant as a public sector contracting authority
NB: This article was originally published on 30 August 2024. All information was correct at the time of writing, but may not be fully applicable following the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023. In England and Wales, the regulatory framework governing public sector procurement is currently outlined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). […]
How to prepare for the Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 is about to revolutionise the regulations that govern how the public sector spends money, and you can start getting prepared now. What is the Procurement Act 2023? The Procurement Act 2023 is bringing significant changes to the regulations that govern UK procurement. Each year the public sector spends around £300 billion […]
How to build sustainability into procurement: staying on track for carbon net zero
NB: This article was originally published on 1 February 2023. All information was correct at the time of writing, but may not be fully applicable following the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023. Building sustainability into your procurements is crucial in order to meet the 2050 net zero target set by Government. To get it […]