Steering clear of the naughty step

• The Procurement Act 2023 will introduce a new regime for the awarding of public contracts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• It will set out stronger provisions on the exclusion of bidders, an enhanced ability to exclude a bidder based on the actions of its parent and subsidiary companies, and the introduction of new rules on ‘debarment’ and a centrally maintained ‘debarment list’.
• While the new regime promotes consistency, transparency, and accountability, these measures also require contracting authorities to exercise judgement and diligence in their application.

The Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023), which comes into force on 24 February 2025, heralds a new era of accountability and integrity in the process for awarding public contracts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. One of the most striking features of PA 2023 is the introduction of stronger provisions on the exclusion of bidders, an enhanced ability to exclude a bidder by reference to the actions