Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Accepted
Effective implementation of new Procurement Act requires quality data collection.
Recommendation
The new Procurement Act 2023 will be in due course be accompanied by the replacement of the current Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and related statutory instruments made under the previous primary legislation. The Act reflects principles of proportionality, transparency and ensuring that suppliers do not have an unfair advantage or disadvantage.55 The Procurement Act has been developed with the aim of reducing administrative costs to businesses and the public sector, while permitting flexibility in how buyers structure competitions and use negotiation. This increases the importance of collecting good quality data to ensure that departments are using this flexibility properly and identifying best practices.56 We asked how government would prepare all departments and public bodies to deal with these changes. The Cabinet Office highlighted that it has already held briefings with the Civil Service Board in July, putting heads of departments on notice to make sure they were looking forward to and ready for it.57
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and states the Procurement Act 2023 will go live in October 2024. It is rolling out learning interventions to train buyers on the new legislative framework and has a plan for transition.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 5.2 It is currently anticipated that the new regime in the Procurement Act 2023 will go-live in October 2024 following an implementation period of 6 months post the laying of secondary legislation. The Cabinet Office has set out its plan for transition between the regimes and is already rolling out a series of learning interventions to train contracting authority buyers on what the new legislative framework is and how to use it. More information on transforming public procurement is available on Gov.UK.