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Government issues first set of guidance documents to aid understanding of Procurement Act 2023

The Cabinet Office has published a first batch of guidance documents aimed at providing technical guidance on the Procurement Act 2023 and helping with interpretation and understanding of the new regime.

The first guidance documents, which can be viewed here, cover:

  • Contracting Authority definition
  • Covered Procurement definition
  • Valuation of Contracts
  • Mixed Procurement
  • Exempted Contracts
  • Thresholds.

The Cabinet Office said: “These documents should be read in conjunction with the Procurement Act 2023 and its associated regulations and are aimed at procurement practitioners and commercial policy leads in contracting authorities.”

The documents will vary in length, but each will typically cover:

  • Legal framework
  • What has changed
  • Key points and policy intent
  • Linked notices or guidance, where relevant
  • Where to find further information

The Welsh Government will be publishing its own guidance separately for devolved Welsh authorities in due course.

The Cabinet Office said it would be publishing guidance documents in separate batches which it aims to conclude by June 2024.

Publication of the guidance comes after the Procurement Regulations 2024 were laid in Parliament yesterday (25 March 2024).