Procurement Reform in Wales

Procurement is a complex landscape that is changing following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

We have engaged with stakeholders in the public, private and third sectors, to understand how reform needs to take place. We have considered what changes need to take place at a UK level and what needs to happen using legislation developed here in Wales.

The UK Government has set out its proposals for the future of procurement in the UK Government’s Green Paper “Transforming Public Procurement” and presented Welsh Government with the option to use Westminster legislation to reform those processes.

The Welsh Government has considered this offer and had written guarantees from the UK Government to ensure that, if we work with them on this, we will still be able to achieve the important policy outcomes we seek through the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill. Having considered the risks, benefits, resources, and the assurances provided the FM has accepted the offer of provision for Welsh Contracting Authorities to be made within the UK Government’s Bill. 

To help facilitate this and improve our engagement with UK Government two members of the Welsh Government Procurement Reform Team will be seconded to the UK Cabinet Office for 3 days a week. They will work in the Procurement Reform Team for the other 2 days to ensure continuity. We have also successfully recruited into a number of new roles in our own Procurement Reform Team.

Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, has issued a written statement announcing this decision which is available https://gov.wales/written-statement-way-forward-procurement-reform-wales

If you have any questions, please email ProcurementReformTeam@gov.wales