Why has the Procurement Act been delayed?

The much-anticipated Procurement Act, initially set to go live on 28 October 2024, has been postponed by four months until 24th February 2025. The following blog will cover why the Procurement Act has been delayed, the pros and cons, and the next steps to succeeding in the new era of procurement.

What is the NPPS and why has the Procurement Act been delayed?

In a written statement given on the 12th Septemebr 2024, the Cabinet Office has cited the need to revise the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) as the cause for the Procurment Act being delayed by four months.

The delay will give policymakers the time needed to ensure that the updated version NPPS is fully aligned with the launch of the Procurement Act so that procuring authorities can consistently deliver the highest quality public services possible.

The benefits and the challenges of the delay

While materially, the implementation of the Procurement Act is likely to look similar for suppliers, the delay presents a range of benefits and challenges to those looking to capitalise on opportunities under the new regulations.

Challenges

Buyers have two options: continue to procure under current regulations or wait until new ones are enforced. This makes suppliers uncertain how opportunities will be procured and what regulations will be applied as there will be two systems of working until February 2025.

Services that were planned to be procured under the new regulations will either get delayed until February or be procured under the old regulations. This means more operational work for sales teams as they have to prepare bids under two systems of working.

Benefits

The delay allows suppliers to familiarise themselves with the revised National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS), giving them more time to prepare for the government's new procurement strategy.

Additionally, top pub-sec sales teams will help buyers find their feet by working with them to understand what procurement will look like under the new regulations. This helps educate suppliers on best procurement practices moving forward and prepares teams to succeed in the new procurement landscape in 2025.

There’s also time to get contracts renewed or extended under existing regulations, allowing suppliers to secure their positions with buyers for an extended period.

Next steps

Until the procurement acts kicks off, familiarise yourself with Stotles key resources to proactively identify opporunities before the go-live date.

• Unlock early insights into future contracts with Stotles Procurement Pipeline page: With 19% of local authorities already publishing procurement pipeline notices—months before the Act’s new transparency requirements take effect—there’s a unique opportunity to prepare now for the new era of transparent procurement. Find opportunities in minutes.
• Catchup on our Procurement Act webinar day: We've recently hosted a webinar to help suppliers prepare for success under the new Procurement Act. You can access the recording and slides ‍here.
• Tailor your strategy with a Stotles report: Gather exclusive insights from our report: How to capitalise on the UK's Procurement Act.