QuickRead: Procurement Act summary

Get an overview of how the new Procurement Act 2023 will change the way you buy some high-value goods and services. Download and share this QuickRead with colleagues so they know what to expect.

Updated
on 13 September 2024
See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 49503
Contents
  1. What is it?
  2. When does it take effect?
  3. What's changing? 
  4. How can you prepare?
  5. Download and share this QuickRead with colleagues

What is it?

The Procurement Act 2023 is new legislation that changes how the public sector buys goods, works and services.

It will eventually replace the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, once all existing contracts expire, are replaced or cease to exist.

It only applies to purchases over a certain value

The new laws will only change how schools and trusts buy goods and services that are over the threshold value of £214,904. This is the same threshold as the previous legislation (the exact value of the threshold is subject to change).

It won't have any effect on purchases under this value. Learn more about the different routes to buying goods, works or services at lower values.

When does it take effect?

The Procurement Act is set to come into force on 24 February 2025.

It was previously due to take effect from 28 October 2024, but the date has been pushed back by the new Labour government.