UK public sector procurement glossary

CPV stands for Common Procurement Vocabulary. It is an 8-digit classification code used by public sector buyers to categorise the goods, services, or works they are procuring. The code structure groups related categories together: for example, codes beginning with 72 cover IT services, codes beginning with 45 cover construction works. Buyers include CPV codes in all contract notices published on Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Sell2Wales, and Public Contracts Scotland. Setting up CPV code alerts in KimonBids ensures you see every relevant tender in your category across all four portals.

PQQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) is the legacy format used for the pre-qualification stage of public procurement. SQ (Selection Questionnaire) is the standardised replacement introduced for central government contracts by Crown Commercial Service. The SQ uses a consistent format and question set across government, making it easier to prepare reusable answers. In practice, both assess the same areas: organisational information, financial standing, technical capability, relevant experience, and exclusion grounds. Many contracting authorities outside central government still use the PQQ label even if the content mirrors the SQ format. Under the Procurement Act 2023, the pre-selection stage questionnaire is now formally referred to as the selection questionnaire.

MEAT stands for Most Economically Advantageous Tender. It is the principle that public sector contracts should be awarded to the bid offering the best overall value rather than simply the lowest price. In practice, this means bids are evaluated on a combination of quality (methodology, experience, social value, environmental credentials) and price, with each element weighted according to the contract requirements. For professional services, quality might be weighted 70 percent and price 30 percent. For commodity purchases, price might dominate. The Procurement Act 2023, which came into force in February 2025, replaces MEAT with a best-value test, though the evaluation methodology in practice remains broadly similar.

A Prior Information Notice (PIN) is a notice published by a contracting authority to signal its intention to run a procurement in the future. It does not start the formal procurement process; rather, it gives the market advance warning so suppliers can prepare. Responding to a PIN registers your interest with the buyer and may allow you to participate in pre-market engagement activities such as supplier information days or design consultations. Under the Procurement Act 2023, PINs are designated as UK1 notices and must be published on the new central digital platform. Monitoring PINs and pipeline notices using KimonBids gives you weeks or months of advance warning before competitors even see the formal tender.

Social value in central government tenders is assessed using the TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, and Measures) framework under PPN 002. The five TOMs themes are: Jobs (creating local employment and apprenticeships), Growth (supporting SMEs and voluntary sector), Social (improving health and wellbeing), Environmental (reducing carbon and improving environmental outcomes), and Wellbeing (improving employee wellbeing). Buyers set a minimum number of TOMs commitments required and award additional marks for exceeding the minimum. Suppliers must provide specific, quantified commitments for each TOMs measure they select. KimonBids includes a social value generator to help suppliers build compliant, evidenced TOMs commitments.

The Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023) is 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 several significant changes: a new single digital platform for publishing all procurement notices; a revised notice structure with UK-specific notice types (UK1 through UK7); a best-value test replacing the MEAT principle; stronger requirements for prompt supplier payment; greater transparency in award decisions; and increased emphasis on social value and environmental outcomes. Suppliers need to ensure they are registered on the new Find a Tender platform and that their Selection Questionnaire responses are updated to reflect PA2023 requirements. The KimonBids compliance module helps suppliers track their readiness against PA2023.