In one paragraph
The Procurement Act 2023 replaces the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and several sector-specific regimes with a single, simpler framework. It cuts the number of procurement routes from seven to three, replaces MEAT with MAT (now weighing social value and innovation alongside price and quality), introduces a Central Digital Platform so suppliers register once instead of per-procurement, and gives buyers stronger duties to consider SME access. It applies to any procurement started on or after 24 February 2025 — older procurements still run under PCR15.
The eight changes that matter
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1
Three procurement routes, not seven
The old open/restricted/competitive-dialogue/competitive-with-negotiation/innovation-partnership/light-touch/concession menu collapses into three: Open (anyone bids), Competitive Flexible (the buyer designs the stages to fit the procurement), and Direct Award (single-supplier in specific permitted cases).
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2
MAT replaces MEAT
Most Advantageous Tender drops the word "economically" — signalling that price is no longer the dominant criterion by default. Social value, environmental impact, innovation and broader public benefit are first-class scoring factors. Weightings are still buyer-set and published up-front.
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3
Central Digital Platform (CDP)
Suppliers register their company details, exclusion declarations and standing data once on the CDP. Buyers pull from it instead of asking every supplier the same SQ questions per procurement. Massive friction reduction for repeat bidders.
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4
Stronger SME duties on buyers
Contracting authorities must "have regard to" barriers SMEs face and act to remove them. Lot size, qualification thresholds and payment terms all get fresh scrutiny. The 30-day payment requirement for prime contractors continues to cascade through subcontractor chains.
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5
Public debarment list
A national list of suppliers excluded for serious performance failure, fraud, or modern-slavery breaches. Once on the list, you're barred across all UK public-sector buyers — much sharper consequences than before.
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6
Contract performance disclosure
Buyers must publish KPIs against high-value contracts (≥£5M) and report supplier performance against them at least annually. Bad delivery becomes visible to every future buyer.
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7
Transparency notices throughout the lifecycle
More notice types: pipeline notices (upcoming procurements), planned-procurement notices, contract-change notices, payment-compliance notices. Bidders get earlier visibility of opportunities and clearer post-award accountability.
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8
Frameworks & dynamic markets
Frameworks remain but with stricter rules: maximum 4-year duration (with limited exceptions), mandatory periodic re-openings on open frameworks. The old DPS is replaced by the more flexible Dynamic Market.
SME readiness checklist
Eight things to have in order before bidding under the new regime:
- Register on the Central Digital Platform your supplier profile replaces repeat SQ submissions.
- Refresh your social value narrative. Under MAT it's a stronger scoring lever — generic platitudes won't cut it. Concrete, measurable commitments with delivery milestones.
- Audit your subcontractor payment terms. The 30-day rule cascades down — if you take 60 days to pay your subs, that's a debarment risk.
- Watch pipeline notices. The new pipeline-notice type tells you what's coming months ahead. Track buyers you care about and you'll see opportunities before competitors.
- Capture KPI evidence as you deliver. Performance disclosure means past delivery is visible to future buyers. Strong KPI evidence is your best marketing.
- Review modern slavery + carbon reduction statements. Both are pre-conditions on most central gov procurements above thresholds.
- Move bid templates to MAT language. Headings like "Social value methodology" and "Innovation approach" beat the old "Technical response" silo.
- Know the new standstill rules. Standstill is now 8 working days (was 10 calendar days). Challenges that miss this window are lost — track award dates carefully.
Official sources
Spot the new notice types as they're published
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This page is a plain-English overview, not legal advice. For procurement decisions worth pursuing under the new Act, take advice from a procurement lawyer or the Cabinet Office helpdesk.