Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Consultants definition

What does Consultants mean? In construction and development projects, consultants are the professional advisers engaged by the employer (client) to deliver design, cost management and project management services. The term is descriptive rather than defined by legislation or case law, though standard forms (for example JCT, NEC, RIAI and GCCC) may define it for contract purposes. Typical consultants include the architect, quantity surveyor, project manager, structural or civil engineer, and building services (MEP) engineer. They are often referred to collectively as the professional team. Key legal features include appointment under a professional services agreement, a duty to exercise reasonable skill and care (fitness...

Appointing and Managing Consultants in UK Public Procurement: Thresholds, Frameworks, Conflicts of Interest and Engagement Terms under PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023

Published by a LexisNexis Local Government expert

Practice notes

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STOP PRESS:

From 24 February 2025, the core provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) apply. Any procurement commenced on or after that date must follow PA 2023. Procedures started under the previous framework—the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, the Concession Regulations 2016, and the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011—must continue to be run and administered under those regimes. See Practice Note: Introduction to the Procurement Act 2023—PA 2023.

PCR 2015 as assimilated law: PCR 2015 are EU-derived domestic legislation and therefore constitute assimilated law under sections 2 and 6 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. For practical guidance on the status and interpretation of assimilated law, see Practice Note: Assimilated law.

Broadly, two categories of Consultants are engaged in public procurement:

consultants with technical expertise in the subject matter (for example, architects, surveyors, IT specialists, etc) who typically:
- assist in drafting the specification
- develop the Payment Mechanism or cost model
- and, in some procurements, assess bidders’ proposals for Delivery of the contract
procurement consultants...

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Andrew Millross

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Andrew is a Partner in Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP, specialising in all aspects of procurement and construction. He has been with the firm since 1997 and before then spent 7 years in-house in local government. Andrew also has a background in governance and public/private partnerships.Andrew wrote the National Housing Federation 'Guide to the EU procurement rules' (2nd edition published 2007) a practical guide for registered providers of social housing on what contracts are covered by the rules, what the rules require and what practical strategies can be adopted to comply with them. He was the editor and main author of the 'NHF Contract Management guide' (published January 2010) and was the legal author of the NHF book 'Procurement in Practice; avoiding the pitfalls and getting the best result' (published 2013). Andrew also led the team from Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP that was...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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