Procurement Policy Note 12/15

[edit] Introduction

Procurement policy notes (PPN) offer supporting information about public procurement processes.The Consultancy playbook, Government guidance on how to commission and engage with consultants more effectively, achieving better outcomes, better value for money and improved civil service capability through the transfer of knowledge and skills was published in May 2021. It suggests readers ‘...consult PPN 12/15 Availability of Procurement Procedures (Decision Tree), which outlines Cabinet Office policy on the choice of procurement routes and the rationale supporting them’.

For more information see: The Consultancy Playbook.

[edit] Procurement route changes in 2015

Published in July 2015 by the Crown Commercial Service and the Cabinet Office, PPN 12/15 offers guidance regarding changes to the choices of procurement routes resulting from the adoption of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). It also sets out the general policy expectations on procurement that continue to apply.

PPN 12/15 does not change general policy expectations on procurement for:

• Principles of lean sourcing for procurement above the relevant threshold.
• Procurement timelines no longer than 120 working days (other than in cases of complex procurements).

[edit] Decision Tree

The information in this PPN applies to in-scope organisations (all central government departments including their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies). Its use is optional for other contracting authorities (such as those in local government and the wider public sector).

Annex A of the PPN is a revised Decision Tree. This diagram maps the various options of in-scope organisations and indicates a preference for the open procedure as the normal route. Other procedures are shown as exceptions to be used under certain conditions. These include:

• Restricted Procedure.
• Dynamic Purchasing System.
• Competitive Procedure with Negotiation.
• Competitive Dialogue.
• Light Touch Regime.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Consultancy playbook.
• Crown Commercial Service CCS.
• Non-departmental public bodies.
• OJEU procurement procedures.
• Procurement policy note PPN.
• Public procurement.
• The Construction Playbook.

[edit] External resources

• Crown Commercial Service, Procurement Policy Note: Availability of Procurement Procedures (Decision Tree).
• Gov.uk, The Consultancy Playbook.