Information and guidance for suppliers
Making it easier to bid and work in partnership with the public sector
Public procurement is changing. On 24 February 2025, the rules that shape how public bodies buy goods and services will change.
The Procurement Act 2023 will introduce measures to improve and streamline the way procurement is done and benefit prospective suppliers of all sizes, particularly small businesses, start-ups and social enterprises.
If your business supplies goods, works or services to organisations in the public or utility sectors – or hopes to do so in the future – you need to know about the changes. This includes supplying to government Departments, the NHS, local authorities, universities, schools, social housing organisations, police and fire brigades and utility companies.
Key benefits for suppliers include more standardisation and streamlining of procurement processes - but there are also additional benefits in the Act such as requiring better oversight of procurement decisions and strengthening payment terms.
To receive regular updates and alerts when guidance material is published, you can join our mailing list.
To support readiness for the new regime, we recently hosted two webinars for suppliers and other interested parties which focussed on the key changes for suppliers and featuring a live demonstration of the central digital platform. You can view a recording of the session here (if you have any issues attempting to play the video, please click on the ‘Watch on YouTube’ option):
A webinar for suppliers and other interested parties: How to get ready for 24 February 2025
We will make it easier to find and bid for contracts with a central digital platform which will be an enhancement to the existing Find a Tender Service.
We have produced a series of videos to help you understand and navigate the platform, including how to register, upload organisational information and search and bid for opportunities.
If you have any issues attempting to play these videos, please click on the ‘Watch on YouTube’ option.
A guide for suppliers: How to register an organisation and the first administrator in 3 easy steps
Suppliers: How to register your organisation and first administrator on Find a Tender in three easy steps
A guide for suppliers: Detailed walkthrough How an administrator completes and updates supplier info
Suppliers: detailed walkthrough - how an administrator completes and updates supplier information
A guide for everyone: An overview of the central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service
Buyers and suppliers: How to use the central digital platform (enhanced Find a Tender service) a short guide for everyone
A guide for contracting authorities: The central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service
Contracting Authorities: an overview of the new transparency commitments and illustration of notices on enhanced Find a Tender service
Each of these videos is supported by a user manual.
Guidance and support
If you are a supplier, there are dedicated guidance products to help you prepare and to support you as you begin to do business under the new regime. A short guide for suppliers (PDF, 360KB) on the main elements of the Procurement Act 2023; a factsheet explaining how the Central Digital Platform (PDF, 4.8MB) will work and dedicated Supplier Knowledge Drops videos giving you an overview of the key changes with versions for SMEs and VCSEs. We have also published Supplementary Guidance (PDF, 629KB) to explain how we are defining Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and you can view our Public sector buyers’ training manual - to see the detailed training all procurement practitioners are undertaking.
Updates to this page
Published 28 November 2024Last updated 28 January 2025 + show all updates
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Added a link to the video: A webinar for suppliers and other interested parties: How to get ready for 24 February 2025
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Added a section with new guidance for suppliers, including video guides.
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First published.