Submission on Transforming Public Procurement

In March 2021, we submitted to the Cabinet Office’s consultation on the Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper.

Getting public procurement right is a critically important task for any government, and reform of the UK’s approach is long overdue. The proposals in the Green Paper contain much promise, particularly implementation of the Open Contracting Data Standard and shift to ‘transparency by default’, improved coordination and oversight, the introduction of a debarment list, and reformed award rules that allow the UK to select contracts based on a broader range of criteria than simply the lowest price.

However, there are key issues that should be addressed, both in the overarching approach and in the detail:

• The effectiveness of these reforms depends on the quality and availability of data.

• Accountability measures are critical for fair procurement and building trust in the system, from both businesses and the public.

• Robust management of conflicts of interest and clarity over decision making is essential to maintain the integrity of public procurement.

• Better coordination and oversight will keep reforms on track.

• Clarity is needed about the investment and training required to deliver these ambitions.