May 2024
Price: £150 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference focused on the future of public procurement in the UK, following the Procurement Act 2023 coming into law.
It was an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities in preparation for the Act’s implementation, including adapting practices to comply with new legislation and considering support that might be required.
Delegates examined its potential impact, looking at emerging issues for businesses and local authorities, including resources to support transition to provisions under the Act, as well as differing interpretations of definitions, and implications of increased flexibility.
The agenda looked at issues surrounding competition, including barriers faced by SMEs and social enterprises in procurement, and opportunities for widening market access through digitisation and streamlining.
Delegates discussed how public procurement and widened participation by potential suppliers can be directed to support national policy priorities, such as levelling up and the transition to net zero, and how this can work in practice.
Further sessions assessed priorities for regulation, and establishing an effective framework for public procurement, including:
- strategies for ensuring best practice requirements for transparency in procurement and contract decisions
- priorities for a potential National Security Unit for Procurement
- the establishment of a new Procurement Review Unit (PRU) to focus on non-compliance
We also expected delegates to examine practicalities of potential secondary legislation provisionally titled Procurement Act 2023 (Online Systems and Notices) Regulations 2024, and priorities for ensuring an effective regulatory framework.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Lindsay Maguire, Deputy Director, Procurement Reform, Cabinet Office; Richard Brown, Assistant Director, Cartels Enforcement Team, CMA; and Heather Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer, Bankers for Net Zero.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- implementation of the Act: the new application process - priorities for businesses and local authorities - support - competitive, flexible procedure - emphasising sustainability
- issues: interpreting definitions - effective use of the preparation period - resource concerns - the use of three single procurement procedures - transparency in procurement and contract decisions
- regulation: potential National Security Unit for Procurement and a new Procurement Review Unit - monitoring compliance, best practice and performance - contract debarment investigations
- SMEs: encouraging competition and opening up procurement - reducing barriers - supporting innovative solutions - digitisation and streamlining - increasing transparency and public confidence
- supporting wider policy goals: job creation - enhancing supplier resilience - fostering innovation - supporting economic recovery - levelling up - decarbonisation and transition to net zero
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from CCC; DBT; Defra; Department for Communities, NI; Department for Economy, NI; Department of Finance, NI; DESNZ; DfT; DHSC; DLUHC; DSIT; GCHQ; HM Treasury; HMRC; CMA; Cabinet Office; Home Office; Homes England; IPO; MOD; NAO; NCA; NIAO; Ofcom; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government; as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons.
