Insights
Analysis and practical guidance on UK public procurement.
The Procurement Act 2023 in practice, what oversight now looks like, how contracting authorities stay compliant, and how private companies, UK and international, win.
-
Contracting authorities→
Leidos gets £297m from the Met with no competition. The 'urgent' deadline is October 2029
On 12 October 2026 the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime published a transparency notice for a £297 million direct award to Leidos to finish the Met's command and control system, on grounds of extreme and unavoidable urgency. The legacy contract runs to October 2029. What the notice claims, what the Act requires, and the date to watch.
-
Private companies→
DWP is taking a £368m contract in-house. From April, all contracts over £1m could follow
The Department for Work and Pensions is bringing 2,700 outsourced Universal Credit review staff in-house. From 1 April 2027, PPN 024 makes every central government department run a Public Interest Test on insourcing before it procures or re-procures a service worth over £1 million. Framework call-offs are caught too.
-
Contracting authorities→
Paying suppliers late? By 29 October, everyone will be able to see it
By Thursday 29 October 2026 every public body buying under the Procurement Act 2023 must publish a payments compliance notice showing how quickly it paid suppliers from April to September, signed off by its finance director. Anyone can read it. These are the dates, the two on-time figures and what to check first.
-
Private companies→
Twelve Surrey local authorities are going in April. Is your contract going with them?
On 1 April 2027 Surrey's county authority and its eleven districts and boroughs are replaced by two new authorities. Since 8 July 2026 most of them have needed the new authority's consent for contracts over £100,000 that run past that date. Without consent, the contract cannot be enforced against the new authority.
-
Private companies→
Framework Practice Guide: the five tests buyers now apply to the frameworks you sit on
The Government Commercial Function's Framework Practice Guide of 10 September 2026 tells every public buyer how to choose a framework and when to call off without competition. On a £1 million call-off the levy is £10,000 at 1% and £60,000 at 6%, and the buyer pays it in the price. Five tests to run on every framework you pay for.
-
Contracting authorities→
Havant's £16.6 million without contracts: six questions for every section 151 officer
On 23 September 2026 Havant Borough Council's monitoring officer and section 151 officer reported about £16.6 million paid to temporary accommodation providers since 2019/20 with no written contracts officers could find. What it costs when a supplier, the Procurement Compliance Service or the public record finds the same thing first, and six questions to ask this quarter.
-
Private companies→
RM6399: the consultancy framework Whitehall cut is back at £5 billion, bids by 9 November
On 15 September 2026 the Government Commercial Agency opened RM6399 Consultancy and Professional Services: £5 billion over four years, ten lots, up to 500 places, tenders by 3pm on 9 November 2026. Two years after Whitehall pledged to halve consultancy spend, the buying route is back at full scale. Here is how to secure a place.
-
Contracting authorities→
Apasen v Tower Hamlets: three hours, two notices, £38.5 million of direct awards at risk
On 28 August 2026 the High Court kept alive a claim to set aside £38.5 million of urgent home care contracts awarded directly by Tower Hamlets, because the contract award notice omitted the urgency justification the transparency notice gave three hours earlier. What every authority with an urgent direct award on file should check now.
-
Private companies→
PPN 026: the new central government Social Value Model, and what it means for bidders
The Cabinet Office has replaced the Social Value Model for central government. From 1 January 2027, contracts of £5 million and above carry a minimum 20 per cent weighting for social value, scored against a model with only two outcomes, good jobs and skills. Bids for tenders launching in 2027 are being planned now, and this is the model that will score them.
-
Contracting authorities→
Eighteen months into the Procurement Act 2023, would your processes withstand scrutiny?
The bedding-in period is over and the Procurement Compliance Service publishes what it finds. Five governance risks decide whether an authority is exposed, and a compliance score shows where it stands.
-
Private companies→
Inside a 100 per cent successful G-Cloud 15 campaign: what international suppliers had to overcome
Every G-Cloud 15 application Nexus submitted in the first window was accepted, most of them for technology companies headquartered outside the UK. The framework did not make that easy. These are the eight obstacles that decided the outcome, and how each was cleared.
-
Contracting authorities→
PA23 Compliance Review: If the Regulator Asked for Evidence Tomorrow, Would You Be Ready?
This article explores governance challenges authorities face under the Procurement Act 2023. From unjustified direct awards and unknown contract extensions to incomplete contract registers, late transparency notices and pressure on under-resourced procurement teams to maintain oversight.
-
Contracting authorities→
Beyond Go Live PA23: The Continuing Struggles of Procurement Act Implementation
The challenges are familiar. Incomplete registers, limited payment visibility, late transparency notices and decisions evidenced through email. One year into the Procurement Act 2023, implementation is where risk now sits. This article examines the operational realities contracting authorities are navigating and what defensibility really requires.
-
Contracting authorities→
Procurement Act 2023 Implementation One Year On: Oversight, Transparency and Compliance Insights
One year after taking effect, the Procurement Act 2023 has reshaped public procurement governance across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. With expanded transparency duties, statutory record keeping under Section 98 and a new oversight regime, compliance expectations have intensified. Legal challenges have already tested the regime, reinforcing that documentation, process discipline and oversight are now central to managing procurement and financial risk.
-
Private companies→
Why Private Sector Companies Should Enter the UK Public Sector Market
UK private companies often overlook the opportunity to sell to the UK public sector. This article explains why government contracts can strengthen revenue stability, improve valuation and support long-term growth, and how a structured approach to public sector procurement turns complexity into competitive advantage.
-
Private companies→
G-Cloud 15 Submission In? (Or Not): Now What?
G-Cloud 15 submissions are in. But listing on the framework is only the starting point. This article explores what happens next, why many suppliers fail to convert eligibility into revenue, and how UK and international providers can turn G-Cloud 15 into a structured public sector growth strategy.
-
Private companies→
The Procurement Act 2023 Explained: What the New Public Procurement Rules Mean for Suppliers
Understand the Procurement Act 2023 and what the new public procurement rules mean for suppliers. This guide explains how the Act changes bidding, contract management and supplier obligations, with clear steps to help suppliers targeting public sector contracts, including cloud, tech and service providers, prepare.
-
Private companies→
Getting on G-Cloud Isn't Enough: Strategically Turn Listings into Contracts
Many suppliers get listed on G-Cloud but never win a contract. This article shares strategic and practical ways to stand out, build buyer relationships, and turn your listing into meaningful public sector sales.
-
Private companies→
How to Apply for G-Cloud 15: A Complete Guide for UK Tech Suppliers
Applying for G-Cloud 15 can seem complex if you have never done it before. This guide breaks down exactly how to apply for G-Cloud 15, what documentation you need, and how to meet the new Procurement Act 2023 requirements, with tips from experts who have helped dozens of tech companies succeed.
-
Private companies→
G-Cloud 15 Launch: Key Changes and Actionable Steps for Suppliers
A practical overview of how cloud and technology suppliers can prepare for G-Cloud 15. Covers key deadlines, lot structure changes, and strategic actions for a compliant and competitive submission.
-
Private companies→
G-Cloud 15 vs G-Cloud 14: What's Changed and How to Prepare
G-Cloud 15 replaces G-Cloud 14 under the Procurement Act 2023. Learn what's changed, from social value scoring to new compliance, FVRA Gold and CDP, and how SMEs can prepare.
-
Private companies→
The G-Cloud 15 Framework: Opportunities for International Suppliers
G-Cloud 15 presents a pivotal opportunity for technology suppliers aiming to enter the UK public sector market. An overview of the framework, recent spending trends and what international firms need to get right.
-
Private companies→
Navigating UK Public Procurement: Your Guide to Success in Government Contracts
How to bridge the gap into the UK government market: the key shifts in the procurement landscape, a phased readiness approach, and why domain expertise makes the difference from marketplace onboarding to winning bids.
No articles in this category yet.