Amendments to Contract Procedure Rules – March 2025

The Contract Procedure Rules have been reviewed and updated to reflect the new Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement (Wales) Regulations 2024 which came into effect on the 24th February 2025.

Council’s Contract Procedure Rules (PDF) (Please click on link)

Here is a summary of the most notable changes that have been made:

• 1.14 A Pipeline Notice must be published annually to include all planned public contracts with an estimated value of more than £2 million. First notice is required on the 26th May 2025.
• 2.2 All values are now inclusive of VAT.
• 6.1.3 For every Call-off from a framework established (and commenced) after 24th February 2025 a Contracts Awards Notice must be published on Sell 2 Wales.
• 6.2 Open Frameworks, new clause added – A scheme of frameworks that provides for the award of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms. Maximum duration is 8 years and must re-open at least once during the first three-year period and each period of five years.
• 9.3 Contracts will be awarded on the basis of the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT), a change from the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) of the previous Public Contracts Regulations (2015)
• 13. Exceptions (Direct Award) require a Transparency Notice in respect of an approved exception (over £30,000). An 8 working day standstill period is required prior to entering into a contract with the supplier.
• Additional clause added on: 4.13 Safeguarding – ‘Where the goods or services being procured could impact vulnerable groups, such as children or vulnerable adults. Safeguarding measures must be included in the contract to ensure suppliers adhere to policies that protect these groups from harm, abuse, or exploitation’’ 

Officers are also reminded of the importance of effective Contract Management and the resources available to support them can be found here Contract Management