UK Public Sector Procurement Glossary

Above threshold

A contract whose value exceeds the procurement thresholds set by the Procurement Act 2023, requiring publication on Find a Tender and full competitive process. Approximately £139,000 for central government goods and services.

Accelerated procedure

A faster procurement process permitted in urgent circumstances, with reduced timescales for supplier responses. Requires the buyer to justify the urgency.

Assessment period

The mandatory waiting period between notifying suppliers of an award decision and signing the contract, introduced by the Procurement Act 2023. Replaces the standstill period. Minimum 8 working days.

Award notice

A notice published on Find a Tender after a contract has been awarded, confirming the winning supplier, contract value, and duration.

Below threshold

A contract whose value falls below the procurement thresholds. Below-threshold contracts in England must still be published on Contracts Finder if above £10,000 (central government) or £25,000 (local authority).

Bid/no-bid decision

A formal assessment of whether to invest resources in pursuing a specific tender opportunity. Should consider win probability, strategic value, resource availability, and qualification against requirements.

BPSS

Baseline Personnel Security Standard. The minimum level of pre-employment screening required for staff working on government contracts. More sensitive roles require higher clearances (SC or DV).

Buyer

In procurement, the contracting authority or public sector organisation purchasing goods, works, or services. Also called the contracting authority or commissioner.

Call-off contract

A contract awarded under a framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system. The buyer calls off specific requirements from the framework without running a full tender competition.

CCS

Crown Commercial Service. An executive agency of the Cabinet Office that negotiates and manages framework agreements on behalf of the whole public sector. Manages over 100 frameworks including G-Cloud and Digital Outcomes.

Competitive Flexible Procedure

A new procurement procedure introduced by the Procurement Act 2023, replacing Competitive Dialogue and Innovation Partnership. Allows buyers to design bespoke procurement processes suited to complex requirements.

Contract notice

A notice published on Find a Tender announcing a procurement opportunity and inviting suppliers to express interest or submit tenders.

Contracting authority

A public sector organisation that is subject to procurement legislation and must follow regulated procurement procedures. Includes central government departments, NHS Trusts, local authorities, and universities.

CPV code

Common Procurement Vocabulary code. An 8-digit standardised classification code that categorises the subject of every public sector contract. For example, 72000000 covers IT services and 45000000 covers construction works.

Debrief

Feedback provided to unsuccessful suppliers explaining their evaluation scores and what would have strengthened their bid. Under the Procurement Act 2023, suppliers are entitled to a debrief within 30 days of requesting one.

Direct award

A contract awarded to a supplier without competitive tendering. Under the Procurement Act 2023, direct awards require a Transparency Notice to be published. Permitted in limited circumstances including emergency, extreme urgency, or single supplier.

DOS

Digital Outcomes and Specialists. A CCS framework for digital teams and specialists used extensively by central government and NHS organisations for digital project delivery.

DPS

Dynamic Purchasing System. Similar to a framework agreement but suppliers can join at any time during the system's life. Used for commonly purchased goods and services. Buyers must invite all qualified suppliers to bid for each requirement.

e-Procurement

The use of electronic systems to manage procurement processes including advertising, tendering, evaluation, and contract management. All UK above-threshold procurement must be conducted electronically.

Evaluation criteria

The criteria and weightings used by buyers to assess and score tender submissions. Typically include quality (methodology, team, approach), price, and social value. Must be published in advance and applied consistently.

Exclusion grounds

Circumstances under which a supplier must or may be excluded from a procurement. Mandatory exclusion grounds include certain criminal convictions. Discretionary grounds include poor past performance and insolvency.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

A supplier's indication of interest in a procurement opportunity, submitted in response to a Prior Information Notice or pre-qualification stage. Not a formal bid — it signals intent to participate.

Find a Tender

The UK government's primary procurement portal for above-threshold contracts, at find-tender.service.gov.uk. Replaced OJEU TED after Brexit. All contracting authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must publish above-threshold notices here.

Framework agreement

A pre-approved supplier list for a category of goods or services. Buyers can call off contracts from approved framework suppliers without running a full tender. Most frameworks run for 4 years.

Further Competition

A secondary competition run among framework suppliers for a specific contract requirement. Also called a mini-competition. Allows buyers to get best value from the framework for their specific needs.

G-Cloud

A CCS framework for cloud software (SaaS), platform (PaaS) and infrastructure (IaaS) services. Buyers browse the G-Cloud catalogue and purchase directly without competition. One of the most widely used procurement routes for public sector technology.

GWAC

Government-Wide Acquisition Contract. A US federal procurement vehicle (equivalent to a UK framework) that allows multiple government agencies to purchase services from pre-approved suppliers. Examples include OASIS+ and SEWP.

ICB

Integrated Care Board. One of 42 NHS organisations responsible for planning health services for their local population. Created by the Health and Care Act 2022, replacing Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

Incumbent

The supplier currently holding a contract. When a contract goes to re-tender, the incumbent has an advantage from their existing relationship with the buyer, knowledge of requirements, and proven delivery track record.

ITT

Invitation to Tender. The formal document issued by a buyer to invited suppliers, asking them to submit a full tender response. Contains the specification, evaluation criteria, contract terms, and submission requirements.

KPI

Key Performance Indicator. Measurable targets set at contract award to monitor supplier performance. Under the Procurement Act 2023, buyers must set at least 3 KPIs for contracts above £5 million and publish performance reports annually.

Lot

A subdivision of a framework or contract that covers a specific category, geography, or service line. Suppliers can apply for one or more lots. Splitting contracts into lots is intended to improve SME access.

MAT

Most Advantageous Tender. The evaluation principle introduced by the Procurement Act 2023, replacing MEAT. Buyers must award to the tender that offers the best overall value, considering quality, price, social value, and other criteria.

MEAT

Most Economically Advantageous Tender. The previous evaluation principle under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Replaced by MAT under the Procurement Act 2023. Both principles require evaluation on overall value rather than lowest price alone.

Mini-competition

See Further Competition. A secondary competition run among framework suppliers for a specific contract requirement.

Mobilisation

The period between contract award and service commencement, during which the supplier sets up systems, recruits staff, and prepares to deliver. A credible mobilisation plan is an important part of most tender responses.

Negotiated procedure

A procurement procedure that allows buyers to negotiate with one or more suppliers. Permitted in specific circumstances including extreme urgency and where open competition is not possible.

NHS Supply Chain

The procurement organisation responsible for sourcing clinical and non-clinical products for NHS organisations. Manages category-specific frameworks for medical devices, consumables, equipment, and facilities.

OJEU

Official Journal of the European Union. The publication where EU and UK above-threshold procurement notices were published before Brexit. Replaced by Find a Tender for UK procurement in January 2021.

Open procedure

A procurement procedure where any supplier may submit a full tender response. No pre-qualification stage. Most common for straightforward contracts where requirements are well-defined.

PCS

Public Contracts Scotland. The official procurement portal for Scottish public sector contracts at publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk.

PIN

Prior Information Notice. An advance notice published by a buyer to inform the market of a planned procurement. Under the Procurement Act 2023, buyers must publish pipeline notices (equivalent to PINs) at least 12 months before a planned procurement.

Pipeline notice

A forward-looking notice introduced by the Procurement Act 2023, required to be published at least 12 months before a planned procurement begins. Gives suppliers advance visibility to prepare bids and engage buyers early.

PQQ

Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. A document used in restricted procedures to assess supplier capability before inviting them to submit a full tender. Replaced by the Selection Questionnaire (SQ) under the Procurement Act 2023.

Procurement Act 2023

The primary legislation governing public sector procurement in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which came into force on 24 February 2025. Replaced the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and introduced pipeline notices, the Supplier Registration Service, and new transparency requirements.

Procurement threshold

The contract value above which full procurement regulations apply and notices must be published on Find a Tender. Approximately £139,000 for central government goods and services; £214,000 for other contracting authorities.

RFI

Request for Information. A market engagement exercise where a buyer asks potential suppliers for information to help shape a procurement. Not a formal tender — responding does not commit you to bid.

RFP

Request for Proposal. A document issued to invited suppliers asking them to propose a solution to a defined requirement. Similar to an ITT but typically used for more complex, solutions-based procurements.

RFQ

Request for Quotation. A simplified procurement document used for lower-value or straightforward requirements, asking suppliers to provide pricing for a defined scope.

Restricted procedure

A two-stage procurement procedure with a pre-qualification stage (SQ/PQQ) followed by an ITT stage. Only suppliers who pass the SQ are invited to submit a full tender.

Sell2Wales

The official procurement portal for Welsh public sector contracts at sell2wales.gov.wales.

SME

Small and Medium-sized Enterprise. A company with fewer than 250 employees and either turnover below €50m or balance sheet below €43m. The government has targets to award significant procurement spend to SMEs.

Social value

The wider positive benefits a contract delivers to society beyond the direct goods or services purchased — including local employment, apprenticeships, carbon reduction, and community benefits. Mandatory in all central government procurement with a minimum 10% evaluation weighting.

Social Value Model

The central government framework for evaluating social value, introduced by PPN 06/20. Defines five themes: COVID-19 recovery, tackling economic inequality, fighting climate change, equal opportunity, and wellbeing.

SQ

Selection Questionnaire. A document used by buyers to assess supplier capability at the pre-qualification stage. Covers financial standing, insurance, technical capability, and exclusion declarations. Replaced the PQQ under the Procurement Act 2023.

SRS

Supplier Registration Service. A centralised supplier database introduced alongside the Procurement Act 2023 where suppliers register once and their information is reused across multiple bids.

STAR method

Situation, Task, Action, Result. A framework for writing evidence-based case studies in tender responses. Describes the context (Situation), requirement (Task), approach (Action), and measurable outcomes (Result).

Standstill period

See Assessment period. The mandatory waiting period between award notification and contract signing. Minimum 8 working days under the Procurement Act 2023.

TED

Tenders Electronic Daily. The supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union where procurement notices are published. UK buyers no longer use TED for domestic procurement — they use Find a Tender.

Tender notice

A notice published on Find a Tender announcing a procurement opportunity. Includes the contract description, estimated value, CPV codes, deadline for responses, and contact details.

TOMS

Themes, Outcomes and Measures. A social value measurement framework widely used by local authorities. Provides standardised metrics for quantifying and comparing social value commitments.

Transparency notice

A notice required under the Procurement Act 2023 when a buyer awards a contract without a competitive tender (direct award). Makes all direct awards publicly visible on Find a Tender.

VFM

Value for Money. The optimal combination of whole-life costs and quality to meet the buyer's requirement. Public sector buyers are required to demonstrate VFM in their procurement decisions.

Whole-life cost

The total cost of a contract over its full life, including purchase price, implementation, ongoing costs, maintenance, and disposal. Buyers should evaluate whole-life cost rather than just upfront price.