Today (Mon 24 February 2025) marks the start of a new era for public procurement in this country. The Procurement Act 2023 comes into force, and, for the first time, we have a new system designed and developed in the UK to meet our needs.
Culture and behaviour, as well as law, must change if we are to make the most of the opportunity the new system presents. Procurers now have more discretion about how to design and evaluate public procurements. Using the flexibilities the new system presents wisely is likely to be one of the keys to success.
The evaluation stage is critical, and certain issues seem to recur. Avoidable errors with technical design, fear of challenge, and poor inherited practice, are stopping procurements from achieving all that they might.
In the built environment, these issues can be especially problematic. For that reason, a group of industry experts in the field have come together to share their insights. These are not broad brush strokes; they address ten specific, common instances where procurers can often get it wrong. Although aimed at the construction industry, there are lessons here for other public buyers too.
This publication sets out best practice, points out the potential un-intended consequences of certain approaches, and addresses common misperceptions that may be driving behaviour. It also offers very practical and detailed advice on market engagement, evaluation methodology and ensuring that contractors deliver. This has all been designed with the new procurement system in mind, and complements the formal technical guidance produced by the Cabinet Office.
If there is a gap between the aspirations for your project, and the outcome of your procurement evaluation, this document is likely to tell you why, and what you might be able to do to fix it.
The new CLC guidance can be found here.
A free online webinar will support the launch of the guidance at 11-11.45am today. Join us to explore the publication with a number of its contributors and to discuss the potential solutions, including:
Isabel Coman – Director of Engineering and Asset Strategy, Transport for London
John Doyle – Director, Business 2 Business Partnering Performance Management Ltd
Fergus Harradence – Deputy Director, Infrastructure & Construction, Department for Business and Trade
Rebecca Rees – Head of Public Procurement, Trowers & Hamlins
Alasdair Reisner – Chief Executive, Civil Engineering Contractors Association
John Simons – Managing Director, SCAPE
Webinar registration is available here.
