You may be aware that UK public procurement law has changed following the implementation of a new regime governed by The Procurement Act 2023.

The Cabinet Office has produced an information leaflet for suppliers which can be found here, and recently hosted two webinars focusing on key changes and a live demonstration of the central digital platform - find out more here.

The regime aims to:

	Create a simpler and more flexible commercial system that better meets the UK’s needs while remaining compliant with international obligations.
	Open up public procurement to new entrants such as small businesses and social enterprises so that they can compete for and win more public contracts.
	Embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle so that the spending of taxpayers’ money can be properly scrutinised.

From the date of implementation, 24 February 2025, all of ESPO’s new procurement and commercial activities are now conducted under the new regime. Existing legislation applied until this date and will also continue to apply to procurements started under the old rules.

One of the new regime's main impacts is the creation of a central digital platform for suppliers to register and store their details, so that they can be used for multiple bids and to see all opportunities in one place. Suppliers will not be able to tender for ESPO’s contracts or frameworks unless they have registered for the central digital platform.

ESPO advises suppliers to refer directly to the Cabinet Office for the latest information around the Procurement Act 2023:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transforming-public-procurement