Publication of New Procurement Regulations

Cabinet Office have today published the new Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/102/contents/made . They will come into force on the 26th February.

These Regulations implement both the EU Directive 2014/24/EU and include a number of new reforms instigated by Lord Young of Graffham. The aim of the new reforms is to make public procurement more accessible to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises ("SMEs").

The Cabinet Office has been able to bring the Regulations into effect so quickly because it started work on the transposition in July 2013 before the Directive was adopted or published. The work to transpose the Directive has included informal consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including central government departments, local government, industry, trade associations and law and consulting firms.

Cabinet Office has also produced initial guidance in the form of a Training Handbook, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/transposing-eu-procurement-directives. It is intended that further guidance will be produced to include the following topics:

Guidance documents
PCR 2015	Lord Young Reforms
High Priority
Introduction to EU Procurement Rules	An overarching PPN on the new reforms
Special Regimes: LTR and Mutuals	Guidance on the new approaches to the use of PQQs
Procurement Routes	Guidance on new prompt payment obligations
Selection, including mandatory exclusions	Guidance on new transparency obligations around publishing new opportunities on the new Contracts Finder system
Dynamic Purchasing System
Medium Priority
Awarding Contracts
Where the PSD does not apply: public-public contracts
Efficiency and Improvement Products
Help for SMEs
E-Procurement
Lower Priority
Framework Agreements
The Standstill Period
Remedies
Non-Discrimination in Technical Specifications
Defence Exclusions
Environmental and Social
Amendments to contracts once awarded
Awarding Concessions