Glossary
UK procurement glossary
A plain-English glossary of UK public procurement terms — the Procurement Act 2023, frameworks, CPV codes, MEAT/MAT, social value and more, written for suppliers.
Rules & policy
Below-threshold contract
A contract whose value sits under the procurement thresholds, with lighter-touch rules.
Light-touch regime
A more flexible set of rules for certain social, health, education and other people-centred services.
PPN 06/20
The Procurement Policy Note that requires social value to be explicitly evaluated in relevant central government procurements.
Procurement Act 2023
The law, live since 24 February 2025, that governs how most UK public bodies buy goods, works and services.
UK procurement thresholds
The contract values above which the full public procurement rules apply.
Where tenders are published
Classification
Buying routes
Call-off contract
An individual contract awarded under a framework or dynamic market.
Direct award
Awarding a contract to a supplier without running a competition, where the rules allow.
Dynamic market
An open list of qualified suppliers that buyers can run competitions from, which new suppliers can join at any time.
Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
An electronic, open-to-join list of approved suppliers used for repeat purchases, largely superseded by dynamic markets.
Framework agreement
An agreement with one or more suppliers that sets the terms for contracts (call-offs) awarded over its lifetime.
Mini-competition
A smaller competition run between suppliers already on a framework to award a specific contract.
The process
Invitation to Tender (ITT)
The formal document inviting suppliers to submit a priced, detailed bid for a contract.
Lot
A division of a larger contract into parts that suppliers can bid for separately.
Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
The older name for the selection stage that screens suppliers before they're invited to tender.
Selection Questionnaire (SQ)
A standard set of questions used to shortlist suppliers on capability and standing before they bid.
Tender notice
The formal notice that opens a competition and invites suppliers to bid.
Evaluation
Evaluation criteria
The published factors and weightings a buyer uses to score and rank bids.
MAT (Most Advantageous Tender)
The Procurement Act 2023 term for awarding to the bid that offers the best overall value.
MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender)
The principle of awarding to the best overall value bid — balancing quality and price, not just the lowest cost.
Social value
The wider economic, social and environmental benefits a contract delivers, which carry marks in most public bids.
Early-signal notices
Pipeline notice
An advance signal, published by larger buyers, of contracts they expect to bring to market.
Planned procurement notice
Advance notice that a specific tender is coming, giving suppliers time to prepare.
Preliminary market engagement notice
A notice inviting suppliers to help shape a procurement before it formally begins.
After award
Contract award notice
The notice published after a contract is awarded, naming the winner and the value.
Standstill period
A short pause between announcing the intended winner and signing the contract, allowing challenges.
Tender debrief
Feedback from the buyer on how your bid scored and where it fell short.
Procedures
Competitive flexible procedure
The Procurement Act 2023 procedure that lets buyers design their own competition to suit the contract.
Open procedure
A single-stage procurement where any interested supplier can submit a full bid.
Restricted procedure
A two-stage procurement that shortlists suppliers before inviting the shortlist to tender.
Frameworks
Certifications
Strategy
Public procurement, in plain English
UK public sector tendering has its own vocabulary — much of it carried over from EU law and now reshaped by the Procurement Act 2023. This glossary defines the terms suppliers actually meet in tender documents, from selection criteria to social value, so nothing in a notice catches you out.
Written for suppliers
Each definition is written from the bidder's point of view, with what the term means for your submission — not a legal textbook restatement.
Procurement Act 2023 aware
Where the new regime renamed or replaced an old concept (for example new notice types and the move from MEAT to MAT), we flag it so you're using current language.
Linked to the work
Terms link through to live tenders, CPV codes and frameworks where relevant, so a definition is a starting point, not a dead end.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Procurement Act 2023?+
It's the law that replaced the previous EU-derived procurement regulations for most UK public contracts, in force from 24 February 2025. It introduces new notice types, a central Find a Tender platform, and a stronger emphasis on transparency, value and SME access.
What does MEAT (or MAT) mean in a tender?+
MEAT stands for the Most Economically Advantageous Tender — the basis on which buyers award by balancing price with quality and social value. Under the Procurement Act this is reframed as MAT (Most Advantageous Tender), emphasising that award is about overall value, not lowest price.
What is social value in procurement?+
Social value is the wider economic, social and environmental benefit a contract delivers beyond the core goods or service — such as local jobs, skills, carbon reduction or community work. It is a weighted, scored part of most UK tenders.
What's the difference between a PQQ, SQ and ITT?+
A Selection Questionnaire (SQ, formerly PQQ) checks whether a supplier is eligible and capable. An Invitation to Tender (ITT) is the full bid where you set out your solution and price. Some procedures combine them; others run selection first.
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