Procurement Act 2023 - Digital Platform update
The Cabinet Office is working to provide a fully integrated digital platform where Registration, Supplier Information and Find a Tender (noticing) all work together to support the Procurement Act 2023 and its regulations. Combined, these components make up the “Central Digital Platform”.
New notices
The Cabinet Office are continuing regular engagement with eProcurement system providers to assist them to make the changes necessary to support the new regime. They have already released seven of the new notice types to the test environment. Systems providers have scheduled development work into their workflows in the coming months.
The next test release remains on track for the end of March 2024. This will include the following updates:
• Pre-market engagement notice - API
• Notices supporting dynamic markets - API
• Procurement termination notice - API
• Enhancements to notices from earlier releases
Sign-in and Registration and Supplier Information Functionality
As part of the Cabinet Office’s journey to deliver the Registration and Supplier Information, significant steps forward have been made with these components. In October and November 2023 a discovery of Sign in and Registration was undertaken and after a thorough review of the system's architecture, they have been able to devise a more straightforward and efficient design for the registration and supplier information services. This refined approach not only simplifies interactions but also paves the way for more robust and user-friendly experiences. This new design has received the green light from the Cabinet Office Technical Design Authority (TDA).
An outline data model and information pack has been shared with eProcurement system providers and the Cabinet Office will work with them closely in the coming months to develop the functionality.
New Procedures Workshop
The Cabinet Office met with approximately 65 representatives from the eProcurement system providers at the end of January 2024. The purpose of the meeting was to provide sufficient policy information to ensure that the eProcurement system providers are well equipped to have detailed conversations with contracting authorities about the workflow and development of the new systems.