UK public sector procurement glossary
This glossary covers 50+ public sector procurement terms used in UK government tendering. Whether you are preparing your first bid or managing a portfolio of framework contracts, understanding terminology like CPV codes, PQQ, selection questionnaires, and social value is essential for winning public sector work.
Alcatel Period
The mandatory standstill period between notification of award decision and contract signing, sometimes called the Alcatel period after the EU court case that established the principle. In the UK this is typically 10 calendar days and allows unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision. Also known as the standstill period.
Approved Supplier List (ASL)
A pre-vetted list of suppliers that a buying organisation has approved to provide specific goods or services. Being on an ASL allows you to be invited to quote without going through a full open competition.
Award Criteria
The factors a buyer will use to evaluate and score bids. Most public sector contracts use a combination of quality (methodology, experience, social value) and price, with the weighting stated in the tender documents. Under the Procurement Act 2023, the best-value test replaces the former MEAT principle, though evaluation approaches remain similar in practice.
Bid Library
A collection of pre-written, reusable content that can be adapted for different tender responses. A strong bid library covering your capabilities, case studies, CVs, and policies significantly reduces the time needed for each bid.
Call-Off Contract
A contract placed under an existing framework agreement. The buyer selects a supplier from the framework and issues a call-off without running a new full procurement exercise. Call-offs can be placed by direct award or mini-competition depending on the framework rules.
Capability Statement
A document summarising your organisation's experience, qualifications, and ability to deliver specific types of contracts. Often requested as part of a pre-qualification or selection stage.
Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS)
Software or technology that is available as a standard product rather than built to a bespoke specification. Buyers often specify whether they want COTS solutions or bespoke development.
Constructionline
A UK pre-qualification scheme for construction, facilities management, and related services. Many contracting authorities require suppliers to hold a valid Constructionline membership at Gold or Platinum level as a condition of tendering for construction-related contracts.
Contract Notice
The formal advertisement of a procurement opportunity, published on Contracts Finder, Find a Tender, Sell2Wales, or Public Contracts Scotland. It sets out the nature of the contract, the value, the deadline for expressions of interest, and the contact details for the buying authority. Under the Procurement Act 2023, contract notices must be published on the new central digital platform.
Contracts Finder
The UK government's primary portal for publishing public sector procurement opportunities above £12,000. Mandatory for central government contracts; widely used by other public sector bodies. KimonBids monitors Contracts Finder alongside Find a Tender, Sell2Wales, and Public Contracts Scotland.
CPV Code
Common Procurement Vocabulary code. An 8-digit classification code used to categorise the goods, services, or works being procured. Used by buyers to index tenders and by suppliers to filter relevant opportunities. Setting up CPV code alerts in KimonBids ensures you see every relevant tender across all four portals.
Cyber Essentials
A UK government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme that demonstrates a supplier meets baseline cybersecurity standards. Many central government and NHS contracts require Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus as a mandatory condition of contract. The scheme covers five technical controls: firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection, and patch management.
Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
A fully electronic procurement process open throughout its duration to any supplier that meets the selection criteria. Unlike frameworks, new suppliers can join a DPS at any time throughout its lifetime. Common in temporary staffing, consumables, and professional services categories.
Direct Award
A call-off placed under a framework agreement without running a further competition. Direct award is permitted where the framework evaluation criteria are sufficient to identify the most suitable supplier without a new competition. G-Cloud operates entirely on a direct award basis; buyers select from the catalogue using published service descriptions and pricing.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
An initial indication of interest in a procurement opportunity, submitted in response to a Prior Information Notice or contract notice. Used to register interest before the full tender documents are released.
Find a Tender (FTS)
The UK's post-Brexit replacement for the OJEU journal, used for publishing higher-value contracts above the relevant procurement thresholds. Mandatory for contracts subject to the Public Contracts Regulations. Also called Find a Tender Service.
FOI (Freedom of Information) in procurement
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives suppliers the right to request information about procurement decisions, evaluation scores, and award rationale from public bodies. Using FOI requests to understand how competitors scored in tenders you lost can significantly improve your next bid.
Framework Agreement
An agreement with one or more suppliers that sets out the terms under which specific contracts can be placed. Buyers use frameworks to streamline procurement and suppliers use them to access work without a full competition for each contract. See the KimonBids frameworks guide for a full breakdown of major UK frameworks including G-Cloud, Digital Outcomes, and CCS agreements.
Go/No-Go Decision
A structured assessment of whether to invest resource in responding to a specific tender opportunity. Typically evaluates sector fit, capability match, certifications, contract value, and available capacity.
Invitation to Quote (ITQ)
A request sent to selected suppliers (often from an approved supplier list or framework) asking them to submit a price for specific goods or services. Less formal than an ITT.
Invitation to Tender (ITT)
A formal document inviting selected or all suppliers to submit a full bid for a contract. The ITT contains the specification, evaluation criteria, contract terms, and submission requirements.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
Measurable targets used to monitor contract performance. Public sector contracts typically specify KPIs at the outset that the supplier must meet throughout the contract term.
Lots
Subdivisions within a framework agreement or contract that group services by category, geography, or contract value. Suppliers apply to individual lots. A single framework may have 10 or more lots, and a supplier can apply to multiple lots simultaneously if they have relevant capability across all of them.
MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender)
The principle that public sector contracts should be awarded to the bid that offers the best overall value, not simply the lowest price. Award criteria are designed to identify the MEAT. Under the Procurement Act 2023, MEAT is replaced by the best-value test, though the practical evaluation approach (quality and price weighted scoring) remains broadly the same.
Method Statement
A written explanation of how you will deliver the contract. Method statements are a key component of most ITT responses and are scored against specific evaluation criteria.
Mini-Competition
A further competition run among suppliers who are already on a framework agreement or Dynamic Purchasing System. The buyer publishes a specific requirement, invites all or some framework members in the relevant lot to respond, and awards a call-off based on the mini-competition evaluation. Mini-competitions allow buyers to get best value from the framework for specific requirements while avoiding a full open procurement.
OJEU / FTS
OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) was the former publication where UK public sector contracts above threshold values had to be advertised. After Brexit, it was replaced by Find a Tender Service (FTS) for UK contracts. OJEU notices are still relevant for contracts with cross-border EU activity.
Open Procedure
A procurement procedure where any supplier can submit a full bid in response to the contract notice. The most common procedure for straightforward contracts.
Pipeline Notice
A forward notice published by a contracting authority to signal its intention to procure specific goods or services in the next 12 to 18 months. Under the Procurement Act 2023, pipeline notices are designated as UK1 (preliminary market engagement) and UK3 (planned procurement). Monitoring pipeline notices allows suppliers to prepare for upcoming frameworks and tenders well in advance.
PN 006 / PPN (Procurement Policy Notes)
Guidance notes issued by Cabinet Office to central government procurement teams on specific aspects of procurement policy. Key PPNs for suppliers include PPN 002 (social value), PPN 003 (prompt payment), and PPN 006 (net zero). PPNs explain how evaluation criteria will be applied in practice and are essential reading before bidding for central government contracts.
PPN 002 (Procurement Policy Note on Social Value)
The Cabinet Office guidance that requires central government buyers to include social value as a minimum 10 percent weighting in service contract evaluations. PPN 002 uses the TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, and Measures) framework to assess social value commitments. Understanding PPN 002 is essential for winning central government service contracts.
PQQ / SQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire / Selection Questionnaire)
An initial assessment stage where buyers evaluate whether suppliers meet minimum standards before inviting them to tender. The PQQ was the traditional format; it has largely been replaced by the standardised Selection Questionnaire (SQ) for central government contracts. Both assess financial standing, relevant experience, and compliance declarations.
Prior Information Notice (PIN)
An early notice published by a buyer to signal their intention to procure. Responding to a PIN does not commit you to bidding but registers your interest and may influence the procurement design. Under the Procurement Act 2023, PINs are designated as UK1 notices.
Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023)
The primary legislation governing public sector procurement in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland that came into effect in February 2025. It replaces the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and introduces a new single digital platform for publishing notices, a revised notice structure (UK1-UK7), a new best-value test replacing MEAT, and greater emphasis on social value and supplier transparency. The KimonBids compliance module helps suppliers track their readiness against PA2023 requirements.
Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015)
The primary legislation that governed public sector procurement in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland before the Procurement Act 2023 came into force. Sets out the rules, procedures, and thresholds for how public bodies must run procurements. PCR 2015 still applies to procurements started before February 2025.
Public Contracts Scotland
The national procurement portal for Scotland, used by Scottish Government, NHS Scotland, local councils, and other Scottish contracting authorities to publish opportunities. Many Scottish frameworks and high-value contracts are only advertised here. KimonBids monitors Public Contracts Scotland alongside the three other UK portals.
Pre-Market Engagement (PME)
A formal process by which a contracting authority consults with suppliers before publishing a procurement to understand market capability, test specifications, and identify potential suppliers. Under the Procurement Act 2023, pre-market engagement activities must be disclosed in contract notices to ensure transparency and avoid procurement advantages for participants.
Restricted Procedure
A two-stage procurement where buyers first assess supplier capability (via a selection questionnaire) and then invite only qualified suppliers to submit a full tender.
Selection Questionnaire (SQ)
The standardised pre-qualification questionnaire introduced for central government contracts under Crown Commercial Service guidance. The SQ replaced the legacy PQQ format and covers organisational information, financial standing, technical capability, and exclusion grounds. KimonBids PSQ Response Bank helps suppliers maintain reusable SQ answers that can be adapted for each opportunity.
Sell2Wales
The national procurement portal for Wales, covering public sector opportunities from Welsh Government, NHS Wales, local authorities, and other Welsh public bodies. Operated by the Welsh Government alongside Contracts Finder. KimonBids monitors Sell2Wales alongside Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, and Public Contracts Scotland.
SME (Small and Medium Enterprise)
A business with fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover below £44 million. SMEs are a central focus of UK government procurement policy; Cabinet Office targets require contracting authorities to report annually on the proportion of contracts awarded to SMEs, both directly and through supply chains. Many frameworks have no minimum turnover requirement specifically to improve SME access.
Social Value
The broader economic, social, and environmental benefits that a contract can generate for the local community. The Social Value Act 2012 requires public sector buyers to consider social value in procurement decisions. Many buyers now include social value as a scored element worth 10 to 20 percent of the total, evaluated using the PPN 002 TOMs framework. KimonBids includes a social value generator to help suppliers quantify and articulate their commitments.
Specification
The detailed description of the goods, services, or works required under a contract. The specification defines what you are bidding to deliver.
Standstill Period
A mandatory waiting period (usually 10 calendar days) between notifying tenderers of an award decision and signing the contract. Allows unsuccessful bidders to challenge the decision. Also called the Alcatel period.
TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, and Measures)
The evaluation framework used to assess social value commitments in central government procurements under PPN 002. TOMs is structured into five themes: Jobs, Growth, Social, Environmental, and Wellbeing. Each theme has defined outcomes and specific measures. Buyers set a minimum number of TOMs commitments that bidders must meet, and bidders score additional points for exceeding the minimum.
TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment)
Legislation that protects employees when a service is transferred from one provider to another. TUPE often applies when winning a contract from an incumbent supplier. Buyers are required to disclose staff numbers and terms when TUPE applies, and suppliers must include TUPE costs in their pricing.
Value for Money (VFM)
The optimum combination of whole-life cost and quality that meets the contracting authority's requirement. Value for money is the overarching objective of public procurement under UK law and policy. It is achieved through competitive processes, framework agreements, and category management rather than simply selecting the lowest price.
Whole Life Cost
The total cost of ownership of goods or services over their full lifetime, including procurement, operation, maintenance, and disposal costs. Public sector buyers are required to assess whole life costs rather than just the initial purchase price when evaluating bids for capital goods and long-term service contracts.
Works Contract
A contract for the execution of construction or civil engineering works, including new build, refurbishment, demolition, and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure. Works contracts have higher procurement thresholds than supply and service contracts and are subject to specific rules under the Public Contracts Regulations and the Procurement Act 2023.
Zero to One Bid
A bid submitted for a contract in a sector or with a buyer where your organisation has no prior experience or track record. Zero to one bids are common for growing businesses entering a new market. They typically require strong methodology, relevant case studies from adjacent sectors, and a convincing mobilisation plan to compensate for the absence of direct experience with that buyer.
Frequently asked questions about procurement terms
Common questions about procurement terminology used in UK government tendering.
What does CPV code mean in procurement?
What is the difference between PQQ and SQ?
What does MEAT stand for in tendering?
What is a Prior Information Notice (PIN)?
How is social value measured in government tenders?
What is the Procurement Act 2023?
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