Public Contracts Regulations 2015

The primary UK legislation governing public procurement, implementing EU directives and setting mandatory rules for how public bodies must conduct competitive tendering processes.

What they are

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) form the cornerstone of UK public procurement law. These regulations implement EU Public Procurement Directives 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU into domestic legislation, establishing mandatory procedures for how public sector organisations must purchase goods, services and works.

Key requirements

The regulations apply to contracts above specific financial thresholds (currently £213,477 for goods and services, £5,336,937 for works contracts as of January 2024). They mandate competitive tendering procedures, including open, restricted, competitive procedure with negotiation, and innovation partnership procedures.

Public bodies must advertise opportunities through Find a Tender (the UK's official procurement portal), follow standardised timescales, and apply objective award criteria. The regulations also establish grounds for excluding suppliers and requirements for contract modifications.

Compliance obligations

Contracting authorities must demonstrate transparency, equal treatment, non-discrimination and proportionality throughout procurement processes. They must publish contract award notices and maintain adequate records. Failure to comply can result in legal challenges, financial penalties, or procurement being set aside.

Post-Brexit status

Despite Brexit, the PCR 2015 remain largely unchanged, though references to EU institutions have been updated. The government has committed to reforming procurement law through the Procurement Act 2023, which will eventually replace these regulations with a more flexible framework focused on commercial outcomes and social value.