Procurement Act live! Essential tips for Justice and Emergency Services Suppliers
The new Procurement Act has reviewed and refreshed all areas of the procurement lifecycle, impacting suppliers within the justice and public safety markets. The Act leads to more transparency, simplified processes, increased access for SMEs, a stronger focus on social value, sustainability, ethical sourcing standards, and improvements in contract management.
If you are a supplier and want to understand what the Act means and the key changes you may need to make under the new legislation, this guide is for you.
I highly recommend the "Procurement Act Live!" It provides clear guidance for suppliers in the Justice and Emergency Services sector, emphasising transparency, accessibility for SMEs, and the importance of social value in procurement decisions. This document is essential for anyone involved in navigating the new procurement landscape effectively and is a credit to techUK.
It reads really well and complements the Cabinet Office, covers links to places to find info and awakens SMEs to take action.
The JES subgroup has highlighted 7 essential tips for suppliers:
- Educate yourself and your organisation: Understand the Act’s principles, review available resources, and develop a clear strategy before engaging in procurement under the new rules.
- Understand Transparency: The Act prioritises transparency, with publicly shared procurement plans, notices, and market engagement through the new Central Digital Platform (CDP). Suppliers should register on the CDP to gain valuable insights.
- Understand Procurement Procedures: The six old procedures have been replaced with just two:
- Open: Open to all who meet basic conditions.
- Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP): Allows tailored, negotiable processes for complex or large procurements.
- SMEs — be bold! The Act encourages SME participation through procedure design, transparency, and the use of procurement lots.
- Don’t let your clients down: The Act strengthens supplier performance scrutiny, with a Procurement Review Unit (PRU) managing investigations and a public debarment list. High, reliable performance is essential.
- Set up simple intelligence gathering mechanisms: Use the CDP, free online tools, and services like Tussell and Stotles to track procurement opportunities and stay ahead in planning tenders.
- Know Where to Find Help: The Cabinet Office’s “Get Ready for Go Live” materials and techUK’s resources are recommended starting points for guidance, templates, and policy updates.
To access the full guide and see the complete list of tips from the group, download the guide below.
Procurement Act - Essential tips for JES suppliers.pdf
Georgie Morgan
Georgie joined techUK as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager in March 2020, progressing to Head of Programme in January 2022. Her portfolio then expanded in January 2024 where she now leads our work across fraud and economic crime.
Cinzia Miatto
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
Ella Gago-Brookes
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes, before progressing into Junior Programme Manager in January 2024.
Tracy Modha
Tracy supports the marketing of several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Central Government, Cyber Resilience, Defence, Education, Health and Social Care, Justice and Emergency Services, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
