Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Procurement definition

What does Procurement mean? Procurement describes how organisations plan, source, tender for and contract for works, goods and services, including appointing contractors, consultants and suppliers on construction projects. In practice it spans private purchasing and public procurement subject to statutory rules. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, public procurement is governed by the Procurement Act 2023 (which replaces the Public Contracts Regulations 2015), alongside sector-specific regimes (including utilities, concessions and defence/security) and guidance. Scotland applies the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. In Ireland, EU-derived regulations apply (for example S.I. No. 284/2016, S.I. No. 286/2016 and S.I. No. 203/2017)....

Competitive dialogue procurements under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015: practical guidance on scope, process and pitfalls (pre-Procurement Act 2023)—England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Published by a LexisNexis Public Law expert

Practice notes

This practical guidance relates to the pre-procurement Act 2023 regime

This Practice Note offers advice for public procurement exercises started before the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) came into force on 24 February 2025. Procurements within scope that commence on or after that date are subject to PA 2023. Under the Act’s transitional and savings provisions, the former public procurement regimes remain in operation as needed so contracting authorities can finalise and manage procurements initiated before PA 2023 took effect (ie procurements that are still ongoing). This Practice Note should be read on that basis. For background reading, see Practice Note: Introduction to the Procurement Act 2023—PA 2023. Further practical guidance on PA 2023 is provided in a separate subtopic, see: Procurement Act 2023—overview.

Public procurement under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015

Under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), SI 2015/102, a contracting authority must select one of the five authorised procurement procedures unless an exemption applies, for example where the contract value is below the applicable financial threshold. For general background on public contracts procurement, see Practice Note: Introduction to public contracts procurement. For additional guidance, the Government Commercial Function...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Katherine Calder

DAC Beachcroft

Katherine is a Partner at DAC Beachcroft and heads the firm's Public Procurement Law team and chairs its Infrastructure & Projects group. Katherine has over 20 years’ experience of advising public bodies, utilities and the private sector on public procurement issues. Katherine has advised upon the procurement issues inherent within a wide variety of PPPs, PFIs, regeneration and outsourcing projects, across sectors and covering most aspects of local and national public infrastructure; from new homes, schools, energy facilities, roads to IT projects.Highlights over her career include numerous education, waste and housing PPPs/PFIs; the 2012 Olympic Games; the Thames Tideway Tunnel super-sewer; high profile defence agreements; the complex alliances and other significant partnerships for the National Highways, the Metropolitan Police, Thames Water, Transport for London, the Greater London Authority and many central government departments. She also advises private sector bidders on how to do their very best in...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...