On 23 May, the Procurement Act 2023 (Commencement No.3 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 were signed, setting out the confirmed go-live date of the Procurement Act of 28 October 2024.

On 24 May, the Cabinet Office published the latest tranche of its official guidance on the Procurement Act.

The Cabinet Office has arranged the guidance documents under the four stages of the commercial pathway: Plan; Define; Procure; Manage.

The guidance in relation to the ‘Procure’ and ‘Manage’ stages remains to be published. By contrast, as of the Cabinet Office’s update of 24 May 2024, much of the expected guidance in respect of the ‘Plan’ and ‘Define’ stages has now been published. In particular, guidance is now available in respect of the following:

Plan

• Transitionals
• Contracting Authority Definition
• Covered Procurement
• Exempted Contracts
• The National Procurement Policy Statement (‘NPPS’)
• Utilities Contracts
• Defence and Security Contracts
• Concessions Contracts
• Light Touch Contracts
• Reserved Contracts for Supported Employment Providers
• Pipeline Notices

Define

• Valuation of Contracts
• Thresholds
• Mixed Procurement
• Planned Procurement Notices
• Preliminary Market Engagement
• Technical Specifications

For more information, please see here.