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Public Procurement Reform

The Cabinet Office, CMA, and Crown Commercial Service are reforming public procurement rules to support British industry, create jobs, and improve efficiency. Reforms address supplier past performance assessment, carbon emissions reduction, economic growth impact, and dispute resolution mechanisms. A consultation on further reforms is underway, with discussion of specialist tribunals or ombudsmen to handle procurement disputes more quickly and affordably.

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Family: Scrutiny and evidence

2026

2 events
29 Apr 2026 | Written question Cabinet Office linked

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to publish data on (a) the number and outcomes of procurement challenges and (b) the costs incurred by both contracting authori

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to publish data on (a) the number and outcomes of procurement challenges and (b) the costs incurred by both contracting authorities and suppliers in such cases.

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27 Apr 2026 | Written question Cabinet Office linked

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has considered establishing a low-cost, specialist tribunal or ombudsman to handle procurement disputes more quickly and affordably t

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has considered establishing a low-cost, specialist tribunal or ombudsman to handle procurement disputes more quickly and affordably than the current High Court process; and what assessment

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2025

6 events
24 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

We asked the Cabinet Office if it considers the past performance of companies when procuring suppliers. It said that it did take past performance into account.58 Subsequently the Cabinet Office has written to the Committee to clarify that public procurement regulations state that consideration of a supplier’s past performance when tendering a contract 52 Q 75 53 Letter from Cabinet Office, 5 August 2025 54 C&AG’s Report, para 1 55 BBC News, Teachers in divorce ‘limbo’ take pension legal actio...

We asked the Cabinet Office if it considers the past performance of companies when procuring suppliers. It said that it did take past performance into account.58 Subsequently the Cabinet Office has written to the Committee to clarify that public procurement …

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20 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

The Department intends to build on procurement reforms begun under the previous government to procure faster. It has identified that the biggest problem is that it takes too long to get programmes on contract.31 24 Qq 22 and 40 25 Qq 42 and 43 26 Q 27 27 Qq 40 and 43 28 Qq 44 and 46 29 Q 29; Secretary of State for Defence, Defence Reform, Statement made on 1 April 2025, Statement UIN HCWS573 30 Q 28 31 Q 47 12 Consequently, the Department aspires to reduce the time taken to award a contract f...

The Department intends to build on procurement reforms begun under the previous government to procure faster. It has identified that the biggest problem is that it takes too long to get programmes on contract.31 24 Qq 22 and 40 25 …

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6 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

Public procurement if used effectively is amongst the most important tools to drive the industrial strategy. However, for this to be the case, the Government needs to ensure that procurement policy joined at the hip with the industrial strategy and wider growth mission. The Government needs to procure in ways that incentivise private sector investment, encourage innovation and therefore provide very clear long-term demand signals. The Government also needs to ensure that the current barriers ...

Public procurement if used effectively is amongst the most important tools to drive the industrial strategy. However, for this to be the case, the Government needs to ensure that procurement policy joined at the hip with the industrial strategy and …

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6 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

We recommend that alongside the industrial strategy, the Government publishes a clear estimate of the number of jobs in the eight growth driving sectors that are supported by public procurement as well as the contribution of procurement spend to the economic growth of the sectors. We recommend that the Government Chief Commercial Officer sits on the Industrial Strategy Council and provides to Parliament a clear ten- year plan, reported annually, on the way in which public procurement will hel...

We recommend that alongside the industrial strategy, the Government publishes a clear estimate of the number of jobs in the eight growth driving sectors that are supported by public procurement as well as the contribution of procurement spend to the …

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26 Mar 2025 | Committee report linked

We questioned DSIT and the Cabinet Office on how they were strengthening digital procurement in government to support competition and innovation. They told us these issues were an ongoing challenge and that they wanted to find a balance between guiding procurement centrally without stifling opportunities to buy locally from SMEs.54 Measures they are taking include setting up a digital commercial centre of expertise to ensure that they build the expertise they need.55

We questioned DSIT and the Cabinet Office on how they were strengthening digital procurement in government to support competition and innovation. They told us these issues were an ongoing challenge and that they wanted to find a balance between guiding …

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26 Mar 2025 | Written evidence linked

In its January 2025 State of digital government review, DSIT reported that government procurement processes had not adapted to the changing nature of the technology market, which has seen a shift from upfront capital purchases to subscription–based models, and greater consolidation of the supply chain.51 Written evidence we received from technology suppliers, third–sector bodies and academics raised concerns that the dominance of a small number of large technology suppliers in the AI market r...

In its January 2025 State of digital government review, DSIT reported that government procurement processes had not adapted to the changing nature of the technology market, which has seen a shift from upfront capital purchases to subscription–based models, and greater …

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2024

2 events
27 Mar 2024 | Committee report linked

NHS Supply Chain recognises that it needs to make considerable improvements to its business if it is to give trusts a better service. While it has a programme of planned improvements, it will be several years before the NHS sees the benefits from these plans and starts to use NHS Supply Chain more as a result.22

NHS Supply Chain recognises that it needs to make considerable improvements to its business if it is to give trusts a better service. While it has a programme of planned improvements, it will be several years before the NHS sees …

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13 Mar 2024 | Committee report linked

We asked the government specifically about how it ensures the taxpayer gains when a company does well partly as a result of having a government contract. The Cabinet Office told us that it publishes key performance indicators (KPIs) for its contracts, and it will be publishing more of these from October 2024 so that taxpayers can see whether the contract is delivering. It said that it was particularly challenging to assess gain share and pain share mechanisms where the government has not test...

We asked the government specifically about how it ensures the taxpayer gains when a company does well partly as a result of having a government contract. The Cabinet Office told us that it publishes key performance indicators (KPIs) for its …

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2023

3 events
13 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

Framework agreements involve an initial competition for suppliers to gain access to the framework, followed by a shortened process for a department to select and appoint a supplier from the framework for a specific contract.36 Government use of frameworks for large contracts increased from 20% of contracts by value in 2018–19 to 68% in 2021–22.37 Frameworks are designed for procuring common goods and services to allow departments to realise benefits from economies of scale, but they are not a...

Framework agreements involve an initial competition for suppliers to gain access to the framework, followed by a shortened process for a department to select and appoint a supplier from the framework for a specific contract.36 Government use of frameworks for …

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13 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The CCS agreed that there is a pronounced trend, in terms of value, to increasing use of framework agreements moving from other competitive procedures defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. However, CCS did not consider that they were the “wrong” vehicle, but “just one vehicle that we use”. The CCS told us that of the c£260 billion of spend in government every year, £120 billion is what CCS calls its “marketplace” for common goods and services. The CCS agreed that it is certainly t...

The CCS agreed that there is a pronounced trend, in terms of value, to increasing use of framework agreements moving from other competitive procedures defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. However, CCS did not consider that they were the …

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13 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

On how it might know whether efforts to transform public procurement have been successful, the GCF told us that government could look at the number of challenges they get and the number of disputes. The GCF noted that alternatively government could also look at the KPI performance or social value criteria and whether they are seeing that those are being usefully applied to generate more than just price and quality for the contract itself. GCF reflected that a national procurement policy state...

On how it might know whether efforts to transform public procurement have been successful, the GCF told us that government could look at the number of challenges they get and the number of disputes. The GCF noted that alternatively government …

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2022

4 events
20 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

The NAO reported that of the 176 contracts in dispute, most of these were still in the early stages of being resolved. Eighty-three of the 176 contracts are still in the first stage of the commercial resolution process with a further 59 having entered formal commercial discussions. At present, no cases have moved into the litigation stage of the commercial dispute process.30 Despite this, the Department denied that there is a logjam in resolving these cases and said that there was a team dedi...

The NAO reported that of the 176 contracts in dispute, most of these were still in the early stages of being resolved. Eighty-three of the 176 contracts are still in the first stage of the commercial resolution process with a …

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26 May 2022 | Committee report linked

Public procurement policy which mandates the completion of whole-life carbon assessments could kick-start the market for low-carbon construction. In time, a low- carbon standard for public works projects would help to remove the data barriers to establishing this market. The introduction of a Procurement Bill in the 2022– 23 Session provides an opportunity for the Government to legislate for whole-life carbon assessments to be included in assessment of competing tenders for publicly financed ...

Public procurement policy which mandates the completion of whole-life carbon assessments could kick-start the market for low-carbon construction. In time, a low- carbon standard for public works projects would help to remove the data barriers to establishing this market. The …

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26 May 2022 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government bring forward legislative proposals, by amending the Procurement Bill if necessary, so as to require a whole-life carbon assessment to be produced as a condition of participation in any tender for publicly financed building projects. (Paragraph 184) Retrofit and reuse of existing buildings

We recommend that the Government bring forward legislative proposals, by amending the Procurement Bill if necessary, so as to require a whole-life carbon assessment to be produced as a condition of participation in any tender for publicly financed building projects. …

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4 Feb 2022 | Committee report linked

CCS told us that it had put an information notice out to say that it was starting to look at the replacement for supply chain finance but the decision had yet to be formalised internally—though it had gone to the CCS board. CCS agreed that its guidance to the board would be to come out of this particular marketplace, especially as the Department 20 Qq 120–123; C&AG’s Report, paras 2.27–2.28; HM Treasury, Managing Public Money, June 2021. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/managi...

CCS told us that it had put an information notice out to say that it was starting to look at the replacement for supply chain finance but the decision had yet to be formalised internally—though it had gone to the …

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2021

6 events
25 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, government departments and public bodies have needed to procure enormous volumes of goods, services and works with extreme urgency. Our report on Government procurement and supply of PPE found that, by the end of July 2020, government had awarded over 8,000 contracts for goods and services in response to the pandemic, with a value of £18 billion. The Department and its national bodies awarded 86% of the contracts. We were concerned, however, that govern...

In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, government departments and public bodies have needed to procure enormous volumes of goods, services and works with extreme urgency. Our report on Government procurement and supply of PPE found that, by the end of …

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14 May 2021 | Committee report linked

We welcome the proposals to reduce bureaucracy in NHS procurement, which have been broadly well received by stakeholders. If they are implemented in a clear and transparent way, they have the potential to both streamline Trusts’ procurement practices and reduce their financial and administrative burdens. That said, a framework of clear guidance and monitoring will need to be put in place to ensure that a lighter touch regime does not inadvertently establish practices that favour incumbents an...

We welcome the proposals to reduce bureaucracy in NHS procurement, which have been broadly well received by stakeholders. If they are implemented in a clear and transparent way, they have the potential to both streamline Trusts’ procurement practices and reduce …

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22 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

We have heard of the benefits of a bespoke advice service on energy efficient retrofitting. We consider that such a service will be essential in order to achieve the pace of change needed to meet the net zero target.

We have heard of the benefits of a bespoke advice service on energy efficient retrofitting. We consider that such a service will be essential in order to achieve the pace of change needed to meet the net zero target. Type: …

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22 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

We recommend that within its Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government consider stipulating the use of sustainable materials in public sector energy efficiency contracts as a first incentive to drive the UK’s domestic supply chain of these materials. (Paragraph 159) 62 Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes

We recommend that within its Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government consider stipulating the use of sustainable materials in public sector energy efficiency contracts as a first incentive to drive the UK’s domestic supply chain of these materials. (Paragraph 159) …

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10 Feb 2021 | Committee report linked

It should also update us on the number of contracts (and their financial value) in which it is seeking to recover costs for undelivered or substandard PPE. COVID-19: Government procurement and supply of Personal Protective Equipment 11 1 Government’s approach to procurement during the pandemic

It should also update us on the number of contracts (and their financial value) in which it is seeking to recover costs for undelivered or substandard PPE. COVID-19: Government procurement and supply of Personal Protective Equipment 11 1 Government’s approach …

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