How you can prepare for Procurement Act 2023 changes

Procurement Act 2023 heralds the biggest change in public procurement for a generation and, as we continue to support our CPC members and stakeholders, we've compiled some ways to prepare.

Changing face of procurement

The Procurement Act 2023 heralds the biggest change in public procurement for a generation.  On 1st October 2024, a new set of procurement regulations will be in place.  The UK Government is due to publish them at the end of March this year, replacing the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

What does this mean for you?

As a publicly funded body, you are already working within the framework of the procurement regulations, and whilst you should be used to working within the structure of the 2015 PCRs, there will be changes to some of the rules which govern the way in which you will procure in the future.  The main changes will focus on achieving value and increasing transparency, whilst several processes we follow will be business as usual.

What do I need to do?

The CPC will continue to be at the forefront of procurement in the sector.  We have established a Procurement Taskforce who will take us, and you, on a journey over the next seven months, as we revise processes and documentation to align with the new regulations once published by the UK Government.

In the meantime, there are things that you can be doing to prepare for the changes...

Background knowledge

If you have not already watched them, the UK Government’s Transforming Public Procurement team have created a series of Knowledge Drops aimed at the wider public sector.  They will give you an oversight of the main changes and we recommend that you watch them.

Upskill your key procurement colleagues

Who within your organisation is responsible for procurement oversight?  Are they aware of the planned changes?  The UK Government’s Transforming Public Procurement team will be launching a series of ten one-hour Expert Practitioner eLearning modules in April 2024.  We recommend that your procurement team undertake this crucial CPD, which will be free to access.  We will update you with links to the eLearning when published but, in the meantime, we recommend that your procurement colleagues each register on the Government Commercial College in preparation.

Get ready for the new Procurement Act

Click to the UK Government’s planning and preparation checklist and summary of the Procurement Act provisions, to familiarise yourself with planned changes.

Join your regional Procurement Advisory Group (PAG)

The CPC coordinate regional PAG meetings on a termly basis and the next in the series over March-April will comprise workshops to focus on the forthcoming reforms. Contact your Regional Procurement Advisor to book your place at the meeting, or point your procurement leads in their direction. The regional PAG meetings are a wonderful way to network with like-minded colleagues.

We will update you again as we continue this journey; in the meantime, contact us if you have any specific support queries.  We are here to help.

Contact our dedicated Learning Development Lead, Mark Pearson, via [email protected] or call 0161 535 0144.