UK Procurement Glossary
100 procurement terms explained for suppliers
Plain-English definitions updated for the Procurement Act 2023 (live from 24 February 2025). Search, filter by category, or browse A–Z.
Showing 100 of 100 terms
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A
- Evaluation & award
Abnormally Low Tender
An abnormally low tender is a bid price so low that the buyer must ask the supplier to explain how they can perform; the buyer may reject if explanations are inadequate under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Evaluation & award
Award Criteria
Award criteria under the Procurement Act 2023 are the published factors used to identify the Most Advantageous Tender, including price, quality, social value, and other weighted elements stated in the tender documents.
B
- Notices
Below-Threshold Tender Notice
A Below-Threshold Tender Notice advertises competitions under the financial thresholds on the CDP. Publication obligations expand from 1 April 2026 for many sub-threshold procurements.
- General
Bid Library
A bid library is a curated repository of reusable tender content: policies, case studies, CVs, methodologies, and compliance evidence.
- General
Bid/No-Bid Decision
A bid/no-bid decision is the formal gate where a supplier decides whether to invest in a tender response, based on win probability, strategic fit, capacity, and commercial attractiveness.
C
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Call-Off Contract
A call-off contract is the individual contract awarded under a framework agreement or dynamic market to a selected supplier, using mini-competition or direct award rules set in the framework documents.
- General
Capture Management
Capture management is the pre-tender discipline of shaping opportunities, building buyer relationships, and improving win probability before the ITT drops.
- Organisations
Central Digital Platform (CDP)
The Central Digital Platform (CDP) is the UK government's mandatory digital store for Procurement Act 2023 notices, supplier information, and contract records. Contracting authorities publish regulated notices to the CDP; suppliers access them primarily through Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.
- Organisations
Central Purchasing Body
A central purchasing body conducts procurement on behalf of other contracting authorities, aggregating demand and running shared frameworks under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Legacy termsLegacy
Competitive Dialogue
Competitive dialogue was a PCR 2015 procedure for complex contracts with negotiation before final tenders. It is absorbed into the CFP under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Procedures
Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP)
The Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP) under Section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023 lets contracting authorities design a bespoke multi-stage competition with flexible participation, shortlisting, and negotiation rules. It replaces the old restricted procedure, competitive dialogue, CPN, and innovation partnership routes.
- Legacy termsLegacy
Competitive Procedure with Negotiation (CPN)
CPN was a PCR 2015 procedure allowing negotiation with selected tenderers. It is replaced by the Competitive Flexible Procedure.
- Evaluation & award
Conditions of Participation
Conditions of participation are minimum requirements a supplier must meet to be considered in a competition (turnover, insurance, certifications, experience), assessed before or with award criteria under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Compliance & risk
Conflicts of Interest in Procurement
Conflicts of interest arise when personal or organisational relationships could distort fair competition. The Procurement Act 2023 requires authorities and suppliers to identify and manage them, especially after market engagement.
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Constructionline
Constructionline is a UK supplier registration and pre-qualification platform widely used by construction buyers and main contractors to verify PAS 91-aligned credentials.
- Notices
Contract Award Notice
A Contract Award Notice publishes the outcome of a competition: intended winner, scores where disclosed, standstill information, and value. It is published on the CDP after evaluation under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Notices
Contract Change Notice
A Contract Change Notice records material modifications to an awarded contract on the CDP, so the market can see scope, value, or term changes under the Procurement Act 2023 transparency rules.
- Notices
Contract Details Notice
A Contract Details Notice publishes key commercial facts about an awarded contract (parties, value, term, CPV) on the Central Digital Platform, strengthening post-award transparency under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Notices
Contract Performance Notice
A Contract Performance Notice reports supplier performance against contract KPIs on the CDP for in-scope contracts under the Procurement Act 2023, making delivery track record more visible to the market.
- Organisations
Contracting Authority
A contracting authority is a public body covered by the Procurement Act 2023 when procuring goods, works, or services, including central government, local authorities, NHS bodies, and listed educational entities.
- Organisations
Contracts Finder
Contracts Finder is the UK government's portal for publishing many sub-threshold contract opportunities, quotes, and contract award notices. With the Procurement Act 2023, its role complements Find a Tender as more notices flow through the Central Digital Platform.
- General
CPV Codes
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes classify contract subject matter for EU/UK notices, powering search filters on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.
- OrganisationsLegacy
Crown Commercial Service (CCS)
Crown Commercial Service was the UK government's central commercial organisation until rebranding to the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) on 1 April 2026. Frameworks and portals may still show CCS branding during transition.
- Compliance & risk
Cyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed baseline cyber security certification often required for public sector IT tenders handling personal or official data.
D
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Digital Marketplace
The Digital Marketplace is the UK government's online store for buying cloud and digital services from G-Cloud, DOS, and related frameworks.
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS)
Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) is a UK Digital Marketplace framework for digital projects, user research, and specialist roles, complementing G-Cloud catalogues.
- Procedures
Direct Award
A direct award under Sections 41–43 of the Procurement Act 2023 lets a contracting authority award a contract without a full competition only where a statutory ground applies, with transparency via a Transparency Notice in most cases.
- Compliance & risk
Discretionary Exclusion Grounds
Discretionary exclusion grounds in Schedule 7 let buyers exclude suppliers for breaches such as grave professional misconduct, unpaid taxes, or prior contract failures, subject to self-cleaning rules.
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Dynamic Market
A Dynamic Market under the Procurement Act 2023 is an electronic list of suppliers from which buyers can award contracts using simplified rules, replacing the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).
- Notices
Dynamic Market Notice
A Dynamic Market Notice opens or updates a dynamic market under Section 36 of the Procurement Act 2023, inviting suppliers to join the electronic list for future call-offs.
- Legacy termsLegacy
Dynamic Purchasing System
A Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) was a PCR 2015 electronic list of suppliers. The Procurement Act 2023 replaces it with the Dynamic Market.
E
- General
ESG in Procurement
ESG in procurement means embedding environmental, social, and governance factors in sourcing decisions, supplier due diligence, and contract management, increasingly scored in UK public tenders.
- Devolved jurisdictions
eTendersNI
eTendersNI is the procurement portal for Northern Ireland public sector opportunities.
- General
Executive Summary (Bid)
An executive summary in a bid is a concise overview of why the supplier should win, aligned to award criteria and written for senior evaluators with limited time.
F
- Organisations
Find a Tender (FTS)
Find a Tender (FTS) is the UK government's search portal for above-threshold public procurement notices published on the Central Digital Platform under the Procurement Act 2023. It replaced OJEU/TED for UK regulated notices from 1 January 2021 and remains the primary discovery route for high-value competitions.
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Framework Agreement
A framework agreement under the Procurement Act 2023 is an arrangement between one or more contracting authorities and one or more suppliers that sets terms for future call-off contracts without re-running a full competition each time. Section 45 governs frameworks, including open frameworks that can admit new suppliers during their life.
- Notices
Framework Reopening Notice
A Framework Reopening Notice advertises a chance to join an open framework at a scheduled mid-term point under the Procurement Act 2023, without waiting for a new framework competition.
G
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
G-Cloud
G-Cloud is the UK government's framework for cloud software and hosting services, procured via the Digital Marketplace with call-offs under G-Cloud 15 (current generation as of 2025/26).
- Organisations
Government Commercial Agency (GCA)
The Government Commercial Agency (GCA) is the UK central commercial function (formerly Crown Commercial Service from 1 April 2026), running major frameworks, commercial policy, and supplier engagement for government buyers.
I
- Legacy termsLegacy
Innovation Partnership
An innovation partnership was a PCR 2015 procedure for developing innovative products/services through R&D phases. Similar outcomes can be structured under the CFP.
- Evaluation & award
Invitation to Tender (ITT)
An Invitation to Tender is the document set inviting suppliers to submit binding offers, including specifications, commercial schedules, and award criteria, usually following a Tender Notice under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Compliance & risk
ISO 27001
ISO 27001 certifies an information security management system (ISMS), widely required for UK public sector IT and data-processing contracts.
- Compliance & risk
ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is the international quality management standard frequently requested in construction, manufacturing, and service tenders as proof of consistent processes.
L
- Procedures
Light Touch Regime
The light touch regime under the Procurement Act 2023 applies higher value thresholds (£663,540 until 31 December 2025) to certain social, health, and education services listed in Schedule 1, with adapted procedural rules.
- General
Lot in Procurement
A lot is a subdivided package within a single procurement, allowing suppliers to bid for part of the scope and enabling SME access to smaller slices.
M
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Management Consultancy Framework 4 (MCF4)
MCF4 is the UK government Management Consultancy Framework (fourth generation) for consulting and professional advisory services, with multiple lots and call-off routes.
- Compliance & risk
Mandatory Exclusion Grounds
Mandatory exclusion grounds in Schedule 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 require contracting authorities to exclude suppliers convicted of or involved in certain serious offences (e.g. corruption, fraud, human trafficking).
- Compliance & risk
Mandatory KPIs
Mandatory KPIs under the Procurement Act 2023 require publication of contract performance metrics on the CDP for contracts above £5 million, improving accountability.
- Legacy termsLegacy
Meat Evaluation
MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) was the PCR 2015 award standard. The Procurement Act 2023 replaces it with Most Advantageous Tender (MAT).
- General
Method Statement
A method statement in a tender explains how the supplier will deliver the contract: approach, resources, milestones, risk controls, and quality assurance. Evaluators score it against published quality award criteria.
- General
Mobilisation Plan
A mobilisation plan describes how the supplier will start delivery from contract award: staffing, onboarding, risk, and day-one service levels.
- Compliance & risk
Modern Slavery Statement
A modern slavery statement reports steps taken to prevent slavery in operations and supply chains, required for larger UK organisations and often requested in public tenders.
- Notices
Most Advantageous Tender
Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) is the award standard under the Procurement Act 2023: the tender that best satisfies the published award criteria, including price, quality, and social value. It replaced MEAT.
N
- General
National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS)
The NPPS sets UK government strategic priorities for procurement (SMEs, social value, innovation, supply chain resilience) that contracting authorities must have regard to under the Procurement Act 2023.
- General
Net Zero Procurement
Net zero procurement requires suppliers to support carbon reduction targets in delivery, often through PPN 06/21-style carbon reduction plans and contract KPIs for major central government contracts.
O
- Legacy termsLegacy
Ojeu
OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) was the EU publication route for public contract notices. UK above-threshold notices now publish on Find a Tender via the Central Digital Platform, not OJEU.
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Open Framework
An open framework under the Procurement Act 2023 can admit new suppliers during its term at published reopening points, unlike closed frameworks fixed at initial award.
- Procedures
Open Procedure
The Open Procedure under Section 19 of the Procurement Act 2023 is a single-stage competition: any supplier meeting conditions of participation may submit a tender by the deadline without a prior shortlisting stage.
P
- Legacy termsLegacy
Pin Notice
A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was an early market signal under PCR 2015. Under the Procurement Act 2023 it is replaced by the Planned Procurement Notice, published on the CDP.
- Notices
Pipeline Notice
A mandatory notice under the Procurement Act 2023 that contracting authorities expecting to spend over £100 million per year on above-threshold contracts must publish within 56 days of each financial year (1 April), listing their planned procurements for the coming year.
- Notices
Planned Procurement Notice
A Planned Procurement Notice under Section 94 of the Procurement Act 2023 gives early warning of an upcoming competition. It helps suppliers prepare and can support shorter time limits when used as set out in the Act.
- Legacy termsLegacy
Pre Qualification Questionnaire
A Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) was the PCR 2015 supplier selection stage. Under the Procurement Act 2023 buyers use Procurement Specific Questionnaires (PSQ) aligned to conditions of participation.
- Procedures
Preliminary Market Engagement (PME)
Preliminary Market Engagement is structured dialogue between a buyer and suppliers before a tender, to refine requirements. Under the Procurement Act 2023 it must be conducted fairly and may require a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice.
- Notices
Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
A Preliminary Market Engagement Notice advertises that a contracting authority intends to consult the market before launching a competition, published on the CDP when engagement is conducted under the Procurement Act 2023.
- General
Pricing Strategy for Tenders
Pricing strategy for public tenders balances competitiveness, margin, risk transfer, and abnormally low tender risk within the buyer's pricing model.
- Procedures
Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 is the primary UK statute governing how public sector bodies buy goods, works, and services. It replaced the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for new procurements from 24 February 2025, introducing two competitive procedures, thirteen notice types, and a Central Digital Platform for transparency.
- Compliance & risk
Procurement Challenge
A procurement challenge is legal action to remedy a breach of the Procurement Act 2023, including setting aside contracts or damages, often after standstill via courts or the PRU route.
- Devolved jurisdictions
Procurement Journey (Scotland)
The Procurement Journey is the Scottish Government's online guidance hub for regulated procurement under Scottish law, complementing Public Contracts Scotland.
- Organisations
Procurement Review Unit (PRU)
The Procurement Review Unit investigates serious breaches of the Procurement Act 2023 and can recommend set-aside of awards. It replaces much of the old Remedies Directives court-first culture with a specialist unit.
- Evaluation & award
Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ)
A Procurement Specific Questionnaire is the post-2025 selection document aligned to conditions of participation and exclusion grounds, replacing much PQQ practice under PCR 2015.
- Notices
Procurement Termination Notice
A Procurement Termination Notice records that a procurement procedure has been abandoned or cancelled before award, published on the CDP under the Procurement Act 2023.
- SME support
Prompt Payment Code
The Prompt Payment Code is a voluntary UK scheme committing signatories to pay suppliers on time, often referenced alongside public sector payment rules.
- General
Provider Selection Regime (PSR)
The Provider Selection Regime is the NHS England framework for selecting healthcare providers, separate from the Procurement Act 2023 for most NHS clinical contracts.
- General
Public Benefit
Public benefit under the Procurement Act 2023 is the wider value delivered by procurement decisions beyond immediate contract price, informing award and policy goals.
- Legacy termsLegacy
Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015)
PCR 2015 implemented EU directives for UK public procurement before the Procurement Act 2023. New procurements from 24 February 2025 generally follow the Act; transitional contracts may remain on PCR 2015.
- Devolved jurisdictions
Public Contracts Scotland (PCS)
Public Contracts Scotland is Scotland's national procurement portal. Scotland did not adopt the Procurement Act 2023; it uses separate legislation and notice rules.
- Compliance & risk
Public Sector Debarment List
The public sector debarment list records suppliers excluded from UK public contracts for serious misconduct under the Procurement Act 2023 debarment regime.
R
- General
Red Team Review
A red team review is an independent critique of a draft tender before submission to find compliance gaps, weak win themes, and evaluator blind spots.
- Evaluation & award
Request for Information (RFI)
A Request for Information is a pre-tender market sounding document where buyers gather information without inviting binding bids, often preceding a formal competition.
- SME support
Reserved Procurement
Reserved procurement allows certain contracts to be restricted to supported businesses such as sheltered workshops or VCSEs under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Legacy termsLegacy
Restricted Procedure
The Restricted Procedure under PCR 2015 limited tendering to shortlisted suppliers after a selection stage. It is absorbed into the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.
S
- Evaluation & award
Selection Questionnaire (SQ)
A Selection Questionnaire is a standardised selection template (e.g. PAS 91, Crown Commercial) used to assess supplier capability before invitation to tender.
- Devolved jurisdictions
Sell2Wales
Sell2Wales is the Welsh public sector procurement notice portal for opportunities from Welsh contracting authorities.
- SME support
Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)
SBRI is a UK innovation procurement programme funding R&D through phased contracts with SMEs to solve public sector challenges.
- SME support
SME Definition (Procurement Act 2023)
Under Sections 354–356 of the Procurement Act 2023, an SME has fewer than 250 staff and turnover not more than £44m or a balance sheet total not more than £38m. The definition drives SME reporting and policy treatment.
- SME support
SME Spending Targets
UK government SME spending targets (PPN 001) set department-level goals for spend with small and medium enterprises, tracked from Procurement Act 2023 data.
- General
Social Value in Procurement
Social value in UK public procurement means the wider economic, social, and environmental benefits a contract delivers beyond price, as assessed through award criteria and contract KPIs. Central government uses the Social Value Model (PPN 06/20); the Procurement Act 2023 reinforces public benefit and transparency on delivery.
- General
Social Value Model
The Social Value Model (PPN 06/20) requires central government contracts to include at least 10% weighting for social value in award criteria, using themed outcomes and metrics such as TOMs.
- Evaluation & award
Standstill Period
The standstill period is the mandatory pause after a Contract Award Notice before contract signature, allowing challengers to seek remedies under the Procurement Act 2023.
- SME support
Subcontracting in Public Sector Procurement
Subcontracting in public procurement is when a prime contractor delivers through SMEs or specialists, with transparency and payment flow-down obligations under the Procurement Act 2023.
T
- Frameworks & dynamic markets
Technology Services 4 (TS4)
Technology Services 4 (TS4, RM6190) is a major UK government framework for end-to-end technology services, outsourcing, and transformation programmes.
- General
Tender Clarification Questions
Tender clarification questions are formal queries from bidders on ITT ambiguities, answered by the buyer to all bidders simultaneously before deadline.
- Notices
Tender Notice
A Tender Notice under the Procurement Act 2023 is the formal advertisement starting a regulated competition. It sets the procedure, key dates, and how suppliers obtain tender documents, published on the Central Digital Platform and Find a Tender.
- General
Tender Response
A tender response is the supplier's complete submission to an ITT: commercial offer, methodology, compliance forms, and attachments submitted before the deadline.
- General
TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures)
TOMs is a standardised metrics framework for reporting social value commitments in UK public procurement, aligned with the Social Value Model.
- Notices
Transparency Notice
A Transparency Notice under the Procurement Act 2023 explains why a contracting authority intends to make a direct award or use another non-competitive route, giving the market advance warning before contract signature in most cases.
- General
Treaty State Suppliers
Treaty state suppliers from countries with international procurement treaties may receive non-discriminatory access to UK procurements covered by those agreements under the Procurement Act 2023.
U
V
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