What is Changing?
A new set of procurement regulations are being introduced to replace those currently in place. The new regulations will be known as the ‘Procurement Act 2023’. The new Regulations will apply from 24th February 2025 (not October 2024 as originally intended) and will change how public procurement is carried out to improve the way supplies, services and works are procured for the public sector.
View the UK Parliament Ministerial Statement (external link) confirming the change to the commencement date of the new Regulations. The additional time ahead of commencement will also allow for the introduction of a new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) by the Government which will set out their priorities for public procurement.
Helpful Resources for Suppliers
There is a dedicated information page for suppliers (external link) on the GOV.UK website providing information and guidance for suppliers on the Procurement Act 2023. This includes a short guide for suppliers (external link) as well as the resources below.
Videos / animations
Videos are available for Suppliers and Suppliers classed as Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME's) and Community Sector Enterprises (VCSE's) on GOV.UK (external link).
Knowledge Drops
There are a series of Knowledge Drops (external link) for suppliers and SME’s/VCSE’s which are designed to provide a high-level overview of the changes to the regulations.
There are 3 Knowledge Drops for Suppliers and 3 Knowledge Drops for SME’s/VCSE’s covering a variety of topics. Topics covered include the new Central Digital Platform, Early Market Engagement, changes to procurement procedures, new Open Frameworks and Dynamic Markets, commitments around prompt supplier payment and the Act’s transparency ambition and notice publication requirements, amongst other areas.
The new ‘Central Digital Platform’
This will be used by public-sector bodies to publish details of new procurement opportunities when the new Regulations start in February 2025 and it is the intention that this will be accessed on Find a Tender.
View a factsheet explaining how the Central Digital Platform will work (external link).
It will be a single place for suppliers to register and upload key business information typically asked by Wigan Council and other public-sector bodies. Features will include:
- Reduced duplication and resources used to tender
- The ability to set up custom searches and receive alerts
- It will be free to access
- Suppliers will need to keep their details up to date.
The Central Digital Platform will be where Wigan Council (and other public sector bodies) publish the range of notices relating to a tender/contract. Please note that Wigan Council will still use The Chest procurement portal to advertise its notices, receive bids from suppliers and manage its procurement activities, the Central Digital Platform will be an additional website where notices will also be published.
How Can Suppliers Prepare for the new Regulations?
- You should seek to understand the main changes
- Register/submit your business information on the Central Digital Platform when this becomes available
- Review our pipelines on our Business and Tendering webpage
- Identify how your organisation can contribute to national and local procurement priorities and Social Value objectives (such as job creation, upskilling of the workforce and net carbon zero)
- Visit our Community Wealth Building webpages.
Where can Suppliers Obtain More Information?
You will find most of the information summarised the Transforming Public Procurement webpage (external link) on GOV.UK, where suppliers can check for regular updates.
You can receive regular updates by signing up to the mailing list (external link).