Key information
Request reference number: MGLA140525-5923
Date of response:
Summary of request
Request:
The Procurement Act 2023
We understand that, from 24 February 2025, all public sector bodies are required to align procurement activity with the Procurement Act 2023. These core changes require contracting authorities to ensure that all procurement and tendering activity is undertaken in a manner that benefits prospective suppliers of all sizes, particularly small businesses, start-ups, and social enterprises.
Whilst we are aware that public sectors are required to formally publish Pipeline Notices, that detail forthcoming public contracts with an estimated value of over £2m, of which are accessible to prospective tenderers, in conjunction with their registration of the Central Digital Platform and various e-tendering services, for example, Pro-Contract, In-Tend, Coupa etc.,
In light of this, we request:
a. Details of the preparations, processes, and procedures your organisation has implemented to specifically meet the requirements of inclusive procurement as outlined above.
b. Contact details of the teams or individuals responsible for early engagement with small businesses, start-ups, and social enterprises, to ensure these groups are not disadvantaged in public procurement opportunities.
c. Information on how your organisation plans to manage, monitor, and measure performance in these areas.
d. Details of the e-tendering solution you use.
Our response:
Please find below the information we hold within the scope of your request / answers to your questions:
a. Details of the preparations, processes, and procedures your organisation has implemented to specifically meet the requirements of inclusive procurement as outlined above.
The GLA and TfL are focussed on inclusive procurement practices, as published in our RP policy and implementation plan (RPIP) as well as case studies (all can be found on below GLA CPB web page under Responsible Procurement Collaborative Procurement Board | London City Hall).
Please also note the following recently uploaded presentation on the Procurement Act by Rob Vaughan from DfT, given to SMEs at a GLA event: General 2 | London Anchor Institutions' Network, including Presentation on the Procurement Act by Robert Vaughan, Department for Transport: SME event 19th May 2025
We have been continually developing our processes and procedures to address the additional pipeline notice transparency obligation that the Act introduces, as new information has been made available by the Cabinet Office. That said, we already publish a periodic pipeline on our external website (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/contract-opportunities) for procurement opportunities above £100k, so the new transparency obligations are not a new reporting requirement. We are continuously working to improve the quality of our published pipeline and will continue to improve our processes to ensure that our periodically published pipeline is of benefit to suppliers looking to work with TfL”
Additional preparations, processes and procedures in relation to the implementation of the Procurement Act have included: training and awareness sessions across Procurement and Commercial as well as the wider business; identification of a dedicated lead for implementation of the Act, including pipeline data quality; and working closely with our current systems providers to continually improve and enhance our processes.
b. Contact details of the teams or individuals responsible for early engagement with small businesses, start-ups, and social enterprises, to ensure these groups are not disadvantaged in public procurement opportunities.
Early engagement with small businesses, start-ups and social enterprises are embedded into our procurement processes. However as part of our responsible procurement programme (including London Anchor Institution Network (LAIN)), we continue to undertake stakeholder engagement and utilise LAIN SME events and networking to directly engage with SMEs and diverse owned businesses, alongside DfT and SME supplier events hosted by trade associations including Rail Industry Association and Rail Forum. We also undertake Voice of the Supplier engagement including our SME supply chain.
c. Information on how your organisation plans to manage, monitor, and measure performance in these areas.
Please see the Responsible Procurement policy and implementation plan. We are currently updating the policy and plan which will be published later this year.
d. Details of the e-tendering solution you use.
We use SAP Ariba which interfaces with the national Find a Tender Service (FTS).
Additional information:
DD2744 Contracts and Funding Code | London City Hall