UK public procurement glossary

A

Assessment summary

A written explanation, given to each supplier that submitted an assessed tender under the Procurement Act 2023, of how its tender scored against the award criteria compared with the most advantageous tender.

Award criteria

The published criteria, and their relative importance, used to assess tenders and identify the most advantageous tender.

B

Below-threshold contract

A public contract with a value under the relevant threshold. Notifiable below-threshold contracts (from £12,000 including VAT for central government, £30,000 for other authorities) must be advertised on the Central Digital Platform if advertised at all.

Bid library

A maintained store of reusable answers, case studies, CVs, policies and certificates used to speed up bid writing.

Bid/no-bid

A structured decision on whether to pursue a tender, based on fit, capacity, competition, evidence, commercials and risk.

C

Call-off

A contract awarded under a framework agreement, either by direct award or competitive selection among framework suppliers.

Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP)

A published plan confirming commitment to net zero by 2050 and reporting emissions. Required under PPN 006 for in-scope central government contracts above £5 million a year.

CDM 2015

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which set duties for clients, designers and contractors on construction projects.

Central Digital Platform (CDP)

The online system, accessed through Find a Tender, where buyers publish procurement notices and suppliers register and share core supplier information.

Clarification question

A question raised by a bidder during the tender period, or by the buyer during evaluation, to clarify requirements or a submission.

Competitive flexible procedure

A procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 that lets buyers design their own process, for example with selection stages, negotiation or demonstrations.

Conditions of participation

Requirements a supplier must meet to take part, such as legal and financial capacity or technical ability, assessed at selection stage.

Connected person

A person with significant influence or control over a supplier, such as a director or parent company, whose information is checked for exclusion grounds.

Contract award notice

The notice published when a buyer intends to award a contract, which usually starts the standstill period.

Contract details notice

The notice published after a contract is entered into, setting out key contract information.

Contracts Finder

The legacy government site for contract opportunities in England, still used for procurements started under the old rules while it is decommissioned.

CPV code

Common Procurement Vocabulary: a numeric code describing what is being bought, used to classify and search notices.

D

Debarment list

A central list, kept by the government, of suppliers that must or may be excluded from procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.

Direct award

Awarding a contract without competition, permitted only in limited circumstances, or under a framework that allows it.

Dynamic market

A list of suppliers meeting membership conditions, which buyers use to award contracts. Replaces dynamic purchasing systems under the Procurement Act 2023.

E

Exclusion grounds

Mandatory and discretionary reasons, set out in Schedules 6 and 7 of the Procurement Act 2023, for excluding a supplier.

F

Find a Tender

The UK government's service for publishing and finding public procurement notices; the Central Digital Platform.

Framework agreement

An agreement setting terms for future call-off contracts with one or more suppliers, usually for up to four years.

I

Invitation to tender (ITT)

The tender documents inviting suppliers to submit tenders, including the specification, questions and evaluation method.

K

KPI

Key performance indicator. For most contracts over £5 million, buyers must set and publish at least three.

L

Light touch contract

Contracts for certain services, such as some health, social and education services, subject to more flexible rules and a higher threshold.

Lot

A part of a larger procurement that can be bid for separately, often by service type or geography.

M

Mini-competition

A competitive selection process among framework suppliers to award a call-off contract.

Mobilisation

The period between award and service start when the supplier sets up people, systems and processes.

Most advantageous tender (MAT)

The tender that best satisfies the published award criteria; the basis of award under the Procurement Act 2023.

O

Open framework

A series of frameworks on substantially the same terms, reopened to new suppliers at set points, for up to eight years in total.

Open procedure

A single-stage procedure in which any interested supplier may submit a tender.

P

Pipeline notice

A notice of planned procurements over £2 million, which larger contracting authorities must publish.

PPN

Procurement Policy Note: guidance from the Cabinet Office on procurement policy, for example PPN 002 on social value.

PQQ

Pre-qualification questionnaire. An older term for selection questionnaires, still used informally.

Preliminary market engagement

Engagement with suppliers before a procurement to help shape the requirement.

Price per quality point (PQP)

An evaluation method dividing price by quality score; the lowest result wins.

Procurement Act 2023

The law governing public procurement in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for procurements starting on or after 24 February 2025.

Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ)

The template selection questionnaire under the Procurement Act 2023, used alongside Central Digital Platform information.

Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR)

The previous procurement regulations, which still apply to procurements started before 24 February 2025.

S

Selection questionnaire (SQ)

The standard selection questionnaire used under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Share code

A code generated on the Central Digital Platform to share your supplier information with a buyer.

Social value

The wider economic, social and environmental benefits delivered through a contract, often scored in tenders. See PPN 002.

Specification

The document describing what the buyer needs, against which your response is assessed.

SSIP

Safety Schemes in Procurement: a forum of health and safety assessment schemes whose members mutually recognise assessments.

Standstill period

The pause between the contract award notice and entering into the contract. Usually eight working days under the Procurement Act 2023.

T

Tender notice

The notice advertising a procurement and inviting participation.

Threshold

The contract value above which the full rules of the Procurement Act 2023 apply. From 1 January 2026, for example, £135,018 including VAT for central government goods and services.

TUPE

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, which can transfer staff to a new contractor.

U

Unique identifier

The reference issued by the Central Digital Platform when a supplier registers.

W

Win theme

A key message, backed by evidence, that runs through a bid and explains why the buyer should choose you.