The lighting industry is being urged to be aware that new government procurement rules are set to come into effect from 28 October.
These will, the Cabinet Office has said, affect both the way government runs procurements for goods and services as well as imposing new requirements after a contract has been awarded.
The changes are coming in as part of the Procurement Act 2023. This will, among other things, create a central digital platform for suppliers to register and store their details so that they can be used for multiple bids, and allow them to see all opportunities in one place.
The Act, according to the government, will create a simpler and more flexible commercial system.
Call to begin preparing
It will open up public procurement to new entrants such as small businesses and social enterprises and put in place a regime of tougher action on underperforming suppliers and excluding suppliers who pose unacceptable risks. It will also embed transparency so spending of taxpayers’ money can be properly scrutinised.
It is urging all businesses that work within public sector procurement to begin preparing for the new regulations as early as possible.
This should include reviewing all current and planned commercial opportunities; ensuring standard operating procedures and policies are robust and future-proofed; reviewing any documents that your teams and suppliers use and ensure they are current; considering the readiness of your organisation’s systems and what changes may be needed as a result; and ensuring your people understand the changes and have had any necessary training.
To help businesses navigate the new landscape, a short guide for senior leaders has been developed, as have been a number of short ‘knowledge drop’ videos, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-official-transforming-public-procurement-knowledge-drops
