Extracts taken from The Cabinet Office’s official update
Procurement Act 2023: New Commencement Date
The Cabinet Office has announced a revised commencement date for the Procurement Act 2023. The Act will now come into effect on 24th February 2025, a four-month delay from the original go-live date of 28 October 2024. This postponement allows time for the development of a new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS).
The Government’s aim is to ensure that public procurement effectively supports the delivery of its key missions. The NPPS, which sets out the Government’s priorities for public procurement, is a critical part of the Procurement Act. It is essential that the new procurement regime begins with an NPPS that aligns with the Government’s updated objectives.
A New National Procurement Policy Statement
Work has now started on drafting a new NPPS. The objective is to create a mission-led procurement regime that builds on the transformative powers within the Act. This new framework will be designed to unlock the full potential of public procurement to deliver value for money, stimulate economic growth, and promote social value.
This work is expected to be completed by February 2025. As a result, Ministers have decided to delay the Act’s implementation until the new NPPS is in place. The NPPS proposed by the previous administration, which would have come into force with the original Act, will now be withdrawn.