The Procurement Act 2023 and associated Welsh regulations came into force on 24 February. This Act consolidates previous procurement rules to create a single public procurement regime across the UK. This will simplify the system, make public procurement more accessible to new entrants and embed transparency.
The Wales Procurement Review Unit (WPRU) and the new procurement regime came into effect on 24 February 2025. The WPRU:
- improves the capability and practices of devolved Welsh contracting authorities for the benefit of everyone involved in public procurement by ensuring compliance with the new procurement rules (and trade agreements).
- protects public procurement from suppliers that pose unacceptable risk.
This embeds the changes introduced by the Procurement Act 2023.
The WPRU offers 3 services:
- A new Procurement Feedback Service (PFS): Please read the PFS scope and remit for this service before submitting a form to raise an issue.
- A new Procurement Compliance Service (PCS): Further information, including protocols, scope of investigations, and referral forms, will be published on this site in due course.
- A new Exclusions and Debarment Service (EDS): Further information, including protocols, scope of investigations, and referral forms, will be published on this site in due course.
The WPRU page along with its detailed processes are still being finalised with stakeholders, including UK government and the Northern Ireland Executive, and will be fully available in due course.