March 2026 snapshot

Transforming Public Procurement

Government Transformation and Service Delivery

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: £32.5m
Published schedule: 01/01/2021 – 31/03/2026
NISTA delivery confidence: Not disclosed
Senior responsible owner: Sam Rowbury

What the project is for

The public procurement spend has a significant role to play in stimulating the economy. The objective of this programme is to implement legislative reforms to the UK’s public procurement regime, making it quicker, simpler and better able to meet the UK’s needs while remaining compliant with our international obligations. The programme includes implementing primary legislation, training 15,000 public sector buyers, and developing a new digital platform for commercial data.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at a RAG rating of Green. This is primarily due to all the major deliverables being achieved and expected programme closure on March 31st 2026. We are now in the final stages of closedown with only minor tasks remaining including a final programme closure report, the final programme board (on the 23rd April 2026), completion of remaining procurement notices on the CDP and handover to BAU. This is all confidently expected to be completed by the end of March.

Schedule

Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the project's end-date at 25/26 Q4 remained the same. This is primarily due to all the major deliverables being achieved and expected programme closure on March 31st 2026. All tasks are confidently expected to be completed by the end of March.

Cost

Following the integration of comprehensive maintenance costs through to Programme closure, the total Whole Life Cost has been slightly decreased.

Benefits

Delays to the commencement of the Procurement Act mean that benefits will start accruing later than initially anticipated. While the benefit estimates in the Impact Assessment published in April 2022 remain valid, the net realisation of benefits in the initial 10yr assessment period will be lower, as a result of this delay. https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/46429/documents/1767