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Public Sector procurement: improving access for SMEs

The government has announced a package of measures to improve access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the £230 billion of annual public spending in England. The government will introduce legislation to:

  • Abolish Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs) for low-value contracts.
  • Mandate the use of a standard core PQQ for high-value contracts and ensure small business needs are taken into account in the design of procurement processes.
  • Make contract opportunities accessible on a single online portal.
  • Ensure small firms are treated fairly by mandating prompt payment terms down the supply chain.

In addition, the government intends to require all public bodies to report their procurement spend and prompt payment performance with SMEs and voluntary sector organisations.