What does the Procurement Act imply for awarding directly to a supplier? The Cabinet Office guidance on Direct Award unpacks the only circumstances in which a public body may place a contract with a named supplier without running a competitive… Read more

What is a Competitive Tendering Procedure? The Cabinet Office guidance on Competitive Tendering Procedures explains how public bodies must run a competition when they buy goods or services under the new Procurement Act 2023. It sets out two routes: the… Read more

Defining the competitive flexible procedure The Procurement Act 2023 gives contracting authorities a new way to run tenders called the competitive flexible procedure. Instead of locking you into the old open, restricted or competitive dialogue routes, this procedure lets you… Read more

What is an open framework? Open frameworks are a new kind of buying agreement introduced by the Procurement Act 2023. They build on the familiar idea of a CCS framework, which is simply a list of prechecked suppliers that public… Read more

What is a framework? Frameworks are essentially catalogue agreements that a central body, in this case Crown Commercial Service, has already competed, negotiated and put under standard terms. Suppliers are sifted for basic capability, insurance and past performance before they… Read more

What is a dynamic market? The Procurement Act 2023 introduces a new way for the public sector to buy goods and services, called a dynamic market. Think of it as a live list of suppliers who have already passed basic… Read more