ProContract: Getting ready for the Procurement Act 2023

The Procurement Act 2023 has been delayed by the Cabinet Office and will now come into effect on 24 February 2025. We are continuing to work on a range of solutions to ensure there is a smooth transition for you.

We have begun final testing of the new forms and other system updates, made to support compliance with the Procurement Act 2023. Our current plan is subject to change, and is dependent on the success of our testing period and any further changes implemented by the Cabinet Office.
 
Changes to ProContract
Changes to ProContract: Procurement Regime Selection
When creating a project, users will be able to select which regulations to use, from the following:
  • Provider Selection Regime 2024
  • Procurement Act 2023
  • Public Contract Regulations 2015
Based on the regulations selected, corresponding notice forms will be made available to users. Regulation choices will also support future reporting requirements.
 
 
Changes to ProContract: Introduction of new above-threshold notice types
When creating a new notice, an extra option will be provided to allow users to generate new notice types in compliance with the Procurement Act 2023. Old notice types will be still available for procurements started before 24 February 2025.

The following notice types will still be available to users:
  • UK2 Preliminary market engagement notice
  • UK3 Planned procurement notice
  • UK4 Tender notice
  • UK5 Transparency notice
  • UK6 Contract award notice
  • UK7 Contract details notice
  • UK10 Contract change notice
  • UK11 Contract termination notice
  • UK12 Procurement termination notice
  • UK13-16 dynamic markets notice types
These notices will be published to the Central Digital Platform (CDP) in compliance with the new regime.
Changes to ProContract: Frameworks & Dynamic Markets
The system will continue to support Frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 regime. However, changes are being made to cater for Closed Frameworks, Open Frameworks and Dynamic Markets.

Existing DPS functionality is being expanded to cater for the new Dynamic Markets and Open Frameworks.

New data points related to the Procurement Act 2023 and how ProContact supports the adoption of this, will be exposed to our Advance Reporting solution. This will ensure your organisation continues to have good visibility of all sourcing activities across your organisation.

Capability to manage events specific to the Procurement Act 2023 will be provided. These new event types will allow for workflows to be built, which support the management of Dynamic Markets and Open Frameworks under the new regime.
Changes to ProContract: Standstill Countdown calculation
Standstill periods for events created under the Procurement Act 2023 and Provider Selection Regime 2024, will be calculated based on 8 working days rather than the 10 calendar days under the previous regime. 
Changes to ProContract: Buyer Organisation CDP Registration
In order to publish notices, and view supplier responses within the Supplier Information System (SIS) elements of the Centralised Digital Platform (CDP), buyers will need to first register with the CDP.

Updates will be made to ProContract which allow buyers to store their Public Procurement Organisation Number and Central Digital Platform API Key.  This information is required to publish each notice and view supplier responses.
Changes to ProContract: Supplier Response Summary
Centralised Digital Platform (CDP) functionality requires suppliers to first register as a supplier, and then complete responses to standard questions.

The buying authorities will need to get some key pieces of information from their suppliers to view suppliers' standard questions and to award a contract. We will cater for this to happen in several ways.
Changes to ProContract: Workflow Management
To help users select appropriate Workflows for the Procurement Act 2023, additional constraints are being setup to ensure only compliant Workflow options are available to users when creating new projects under the Procurement Act 2023 regime.
Changes to processes: Increased workload to be expected

Buyers should be prepared for an increased workload with the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023.

The new procurement processes include additional requirements to:

  • Produce of a higher number of notices. This includes, but is not limited to - planned procurement notices, transparency notices, and pipeline notices.
  • Report on contract performance, including spending and poor performance.
  • Report on payments made during the term of a contract.

These requirements are outside of our control and cannot be bypassed.

Deployment schedule

  • 16 Oct:  User Acceptance Testing (UAT): You will be able to test our new solutions and familiarise yourself with new forms within the User Familiarisation Environment (UFE). Please contact your Organisation Administrator for UFE access.
  • 30 Jan: Go Live: All new Procurement Act 2023 functionality will be made available to buyers.
​​The UK 1 Pipeline Notice is not part of our go live notices due to technical schemas not being made ready by the Cabinet Office. We are continuing to work on understanding this additional notice with the Cabinet Office.

Please be aware, these dates are subject to change based on the Cabinet Office's release schedule.

Procurement Act training

We have developed a short online course focusing on the UK Procurement Act and its implications for ProContract users. This course highlights the numerous features and functions relevant to public sector buyers, and offers an overview of developments made to comply with the new requirements of the Act.

We recommend completing this 1-hour online course before using the new features and functions. 

This course is available for FREE to Proactis customers through the new Proactis Training Academy.

Please contact your Account Manager to arrange access.
Please note, all ProContract customers need to register with the Central Digital Platform, generate a Buyer API Key, then enter this into ProContract.  
 
This activity will also be required for all users looking to continue testing the latest forms within the UFE environment. We have been pushing the Cabinet Office for clarification so we would be able to provide proper notice on this. However, we have very recently been notified that the Cabinet Office will be upgrading their test site at the same time as we're progressing with our ProContract UFE update.
 
If you don't already have access to the Find a Tender Test site, you will need to contact the Cabinet Office and request access - https://www-tpp.find-tender.service.gov.uk/ - then register your organisation as a buying organisation. This will then allow you to generate a Buyer API key. ProContract customers will need to get their system administrator to enter this API key into the field under organisation for 'Central Digital Platform API Key'.

The Buyer API key retrieved will be for the FTS test site only and the above process will need to be repeated for your live ProContract instance once you have been able to register with the Central Digital Platform (CDP).

Stay Informed

We want to make sure you have access to a range of resources to help you get better acquainted with the Procurement Act 2023:

  • Check back here regularly: This page is for ProContract customers, and we will post product updates here first.

  • The Proactis Public Sector Newsletter: Our monthly newsletter is sent to public sector customers, providing updates from across our range of solutions.

  • Our Procurement Act content hub: Your go-to page for Proactis news and resources to help ensure you are fully prepared for the 24 February 2025.

  • Transforming Public procurement Page: The UK Government’s resource hub for learning more about the Procurement Act 2023 and the new processes which will be introduced.


Are you a Supplier looking for help and advice?

We have a information hub that has been specifically developed to help suppliers manage the requirements of the UK Procurement Act.

Access it here