Procurement glossary

A

Above-threshold contract

A contract whose estimated value is at or above the relevant procurement threshold, so the full procedures and notice requirements apply. Thresholds differ for goods, services and works and are revised every two years; GOV.UK publishes the current figures.

Assessment summary

Under the Procurement Act 2023, the explanation a buyer gives each bidder of how its tender was scored against the award criteria, and how it compared with the winning tender.

Award criteria

The published factors a tender is scored against, such as quality, price and social value, usually with a weighting for each.

B

Below-threshold contract

A contract valued under the procurement threshold. Lighter rules apply, but when one is advertised above £12,000 (central government) or £30,000 (most other public bodies), including VAT, a notice must be published.

C

Call-off

A contract awarded under an existing framework agreement or dynamic market, either directly or through a mini-competition among its suppliers.

Central Digital Platform

The government's online system under the Procurement Act 2023 where notices are published and suppliers register and store their core information once.

Clarification question

A question a bidder asks the buyer about the tender documents before a set deadline. Answers are normally shared with all bidders without identifying who asked.

Competitive flexible procedure

A procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 that lets the buyer design its own process, which may include shortlisting, negotiation or several rounds, as long as it is set out in advance.

Conditions of participation

The tests a supplier must pass to be awarded a contract, such as financial standing, insurance, qualifications and relevant experience. Previously often called selection criteria.

Consortium

A group of suppliers bidding together, usually with one acting as lead. A common way for small firms to meet requirements they could not meet alone.

Contract award notice

The notice a buyer publishes to announce which supplier it intends to award a contract to. For most above-threshold contracts it starts the standstill period.

Contract details notice

The notice published after a contract has been entered into, setting out its details, such as the supplier, value and term.

Contracts Finder

A government service publishing contract opportunities and awards, particularly lower-value work in England. It remains live alongside Find a Tender.

CPV code

A Common Procurement Vocabulary code: a standard number describing what is being bought. Bidwire uses CPV codes to put notices into categories.

D

Debarment list

A central list of suppliers that buyers must or may exclude from procurements for a period, maintained under the Procurement Act 2023.

Direct award

Awarding a contract without competition. Permitted only in limited circumstances, such as extreme urgency or where only one supplier can deliver, and usually preceded by a transparency notice.

Dynamic market

Under the Procurement Act 2023, a list of suppliers that stays open for its whole life. Suppliers can apply to join at any time and contracts are competed among members. It replaced the dynamic purchasing system.

Dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The open supplier list used under the previous regulations. Systems set up before the Act continue until they expire.

E

E-tendering portal

The buyer's own website where tender documents are downloaded and responses uploaded. Registration is usually required.

F

Find a Tender

The government's central service for publishing procurement notices under the Procurement Act 2023, covering the whole life of a procurement.

Framework agreement

An agreement setting the terms under which contracts will be awarded to a group of suppliers over a period, usually up to four years. Contracts are then called off from it.

I

Incumbent

The supplier currently delivering a contract that is being re-procured.

Invitation to tender (ITT)

The documents asking suppliers to submit a tender, usually containing the specification, questions, pricing schedule and scoring method.

K

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

Measures of how well a contract is being delivered. Under the Act, larger contracts must have KPIs and performance against them is published.

L

Lot

A separately awarded part of a larger procurement, divided by service, location or size. Lots often make a large contract accessible to smaller suppliers.

M

Mini-competition

A competition among the suppliers on a framework to award a particular call-off contract.

Most advantageous tender

The basis of award under the Procurement Act 2023: the tender that best meets the published award criteria.

O

OCDS

The Open Contracting Data Standard, the structured data format in which Find a Tender and Contracts Finder publish notices.

Open framework

A framework under the Procurement Act 2023 that must be reopened to new suppliers at set points and can run for longer overall than a standard framework.

Open procedure

A single-stage procedure in which any interested supplier can submit a tender by the deadline.

P

Pipeline notice

A notice in which a larger public body sets out the significant contracts it expects to procure over the coming period.

Preliminary market engagement

Talking to suppliers before a procurement to understand the market and shape the requirement. Buyers generally publish a notice when they do it.

Procurement Act 2023

The law governing public procurement in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 24 February 2025, replacing the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and related regulations.

Procurement Policy Note (PPN)

Guidance issued by the Cabinet Office on how public procurement policy should be applied, particularly by central government.

Public Contracts Regulations 2015

The regulations that governed most public procurement before the Procurement Act 2023. Procurements started under them continue under them.

S

SME

A small or medium-sized enterprise. Buyers must have regard to the particular barriers SMEs face when procuring.

Social value

The wider economic, social and environmental benefits a supplier commits to deliver through a contract, often scored as part of the award criteria.

Specification

The document describing what the buyer needs, the standards it expects and how the service or goods will be delivered.

Standstill period

A pause between announcing an award decision and entering into the contract, during which an unsuccessful bidder can challenge. For most contracts under the Act it is eight working days.

Subcontractor

A supplier delivering part of a contract for the main contractor. Under the Act, 30-day payment terms flow down to subcontracts.

T

Tender notice

The notice that invites suppliers to take part in a procurement, setting out what is being bought, the procedure and the deadline.

Transparency notice

A notice published before a direct award, explaining the buyer's intention and its justification.

TUPE

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. When a service contract changes supplier, staff working on it may transfer to the new supplier on their existing terms.