Transforming Public Procurement – the official Knowledge Drop

Guidance designed to provide a high level overview of the changes to the procurement regulations and aimed at those who have regular interactions with procurement.

The Knowledge Drops comprise a series of on-demand videos designed to provide a high level overview of the changes to the procurement regulations and are aimed at those who have regular interactions with procurement and would need some material level of understanding of the new legislation, such as suppliers; senior leaders at executive or political level; finance directors; service commissioners; policy makers or other non-procurement people who interact with tender processes or manage contracts; lawyers who may not specialise in procurement; and digital and data teams.

The Knowledge Drops will also be a useful introduction for procurement or commercial professionals who will go on to complete the more in-depth L&D products. More information about the wider L&D offer is available in this brochure.

There are separate Knowledge Drops for:

• Contracting authorities: 45 minutes in total, broken down into 6 smaller sections.
• Suppliers: 45 minutes in total, broken down into 3 smaller sections.
• VCSE and SME suppliers: 45 minutes in total, broken down into 3 smaller sections.

The Official Transforming Public Procurement Knowledge Drops – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

KD1: Knowledge Drop for Contracting Authorities part 1

This knowledge drop series is designed to provide an overview of the Procurement Act 2023 and is aimed at organisational leaders in contracting authorities and those who may oversee functions which include or liaise directly with Commercial and Procurement teams. By the end of this knowledge drop series you will have a greater awareness and understanding of:

• The key changes between the previous regulations and the Procurement Act
• The benefits that the Procurement Act will offer
• How requirements of the Procurement Act extend beyond procurement and commercial teams, and the need to work collaboratively across your organisation.
• What actions you will need to take and consider to implement the Procurement Act, and
• What further resources and training are available to support your organisation to drive cultural and behavioural change to exploit the flexibilities of the Procurement Act

KD1: Knowledge Drop for Contracting Authorities part 2

In Part 2 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• Pipeline publishing requirements
• Early supplier engagement
• The full range of value for money considerations and how you can incorporate these into your procurement
• The importance of undertaking conflict of interest assessments

KD1: Knowledge Drop for Contracting Authorities part 3

In Part 3 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• The competitive flexible procedure and the ability to design a fit for purpose procedure.
• The flexibility offered by open frameworks and dynamic markets
• Changes surrounding direct awards.

KD1: Knowledge Drop for Contracting Authorities part 4

In Part 4 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• The changes around the supplier exclusion regime
• How the debarment list will work
• The new requirements prior to awarding a contract
• The new publishing requirements following the award of your contract

KD1: Knowledge Drop for Contracting Authorities part 5

In Part 5 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• The contract governance requirements under the Act, including contract modifications, performance and termination.
• The Act’s transparency ambition and notice publication requirements
• The role that the Procurement Review Unit will play in improving compliance with the legal regime. 

KD1: Knowledge Drop for Contracting Authorities part 6

In Part 6 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• the steps you can take to help prepare your organisation for these upcoming changes
• how collaborative and joined up working with your commercial and procurement teams can drive the benefits of the procurement act

KD3: Knowledge Drop for Suppliers part 1

This series of Knowledge Drops is designed to provide an overview of the Procurement Act 2023. It is aimed at suppliers who deliver contracts to the UK public, utilities and defence sectors, who take part in competitive procurements or have delivered contracts under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the set of rules followed by most contracting authorities), the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, and the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016, or new entrants who would like to do so in the future.
It is designed to explain the key changes to the previous regulations, and how this may influence how you do business with the UK public, utilities or defence sectors accordingly. 

KD3: Knowledge Drop for Suppliers part 2

In Part 2 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• New requirements for contracting authorities to complete conflicts of interest assessments.
• How the Act makes it easier for suppliers to participate in procurements, through the introduction of a new central digital platform and early market engagement.
• Understanding the full range of value for money considerations that contracting authorities may consider in their procurements.
• Changes to procurement procedures, including the new competitive flexible procedure, and grounds for direct award.
• The introduction of new open frameworks and dynamic markets.

KD3: Knowledge Drop for Suppliers part 3

In Part 3 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• Changes to the supplier exclusion regime.
• How the debarment list will work.
• Changes to how contracts are awarded and managed.
• Extended measures for ensuring prompt payment.
• The Act’s transparency ambition and notice publication requirements.
• The role that the Procurement Review Unit will play in improving compliance with the legal regime.
• The steps you can take to help prepare your organisation for these changes.

KD3b: Knowledge Drop for SME/VCSEs part 1

This series of Knowledge Drops is designed to provide an overview of the Procurement Act 2023. It is aimed at small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) who deliver contracts to the UK public sector, who take part in competitive procurements, or new entrants who would like to do so in the future.
It explains the key changes to the previous regulations, and how these may benefit SMEs and VCSEs when doing business with the UK public, utilities or defence sectors, or health and social care through the light touch regime, which has been retained in the Act as ‘light touch contracts’.

KD3b: Knowledge Drop for SME/VCSEs part 2

In Part 2 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• New requirements for contracting authorities to complete conflicts of interest assessments.
• How the Act makes it easier for suppliers to participate in procurements, through the introduction of a new central digital platform and early market engagement.
• Understanding the full range of value for money considerations that contracting authorities may consider in their procurements.
• Changes to procurement procedures, including the new competitive flexible procedure, and grounds for direct award.
• The introduction of new open frameworks and dynamic markets.

KD3b: Knowledge Drop for SME/VCSEs part 3

In Part 3 of this knowledge drop series, we will cover:

• Changes to the supplier exclusion regime.
• How the debarment list will work.
• Changes to how contracts are awarded and managed.
• Wider commitments surrounding prompt payment.
• The Act’s transparency ambition and notice publication requirements.
• The role that the Procurement Review Unit will play in improving compliance with the legal regime.
• The steps you can take to help prepare your organisation for these changes.

Published 5 December 2023