The new regime aims to make it easier for small businesses to win public sector contracts. The Procurement Act 2023 requires contracting authorities to have regard to barriers facing SMEs and consider what can be done to overcome them, as well as including mechanisms intended to help SMEs do business with the public sector, including:

• Increased visibility of business opportunities in the public sector by requiring authorities to publish a number of new notices covering the entire procurement lifecycle.
• A simplified tender process by the creation of a single digital platform for suppliers to register their details, that can be used to bid for opportunities from all public authorities.
• Reduced upfront costs for suppliers tendering for public contracts, for example by allowing evidence of insurance policies to be provided at call-off rather than framework award.
• Driving innovation by allowing authorities more flexibility in procurement processes, enabling suppliers to understand their challenges and develop new solutions to tackle them.
• Ensuring suppliers receive prompt payment by mandating a 30-day payment term and requiring authorities to publish Payments Compliance Notices every 6 months.