Source: https://tendernation.io/glossary

# UK procurement glossary

The words buyers use in tender notices and documents, explained in plain English with the law behind each one and what it means when you bid.

- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Assessment summaryThe written feedback a buyer must give every assessed bidder before announcing the winner, showing your scores and the winning tender's scores.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/assessment-summary)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Award criteriaThe published factors, such as quality, price and social value, that a buyer uses to score tenders and pick the most advantageous one.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/award-criteria)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Below-threshold contractA public contract worth less than the relevant procurement threshold, covered by lighter rules in Part 6 of the Procurement Act 2023.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/below-threshold-contract)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Call-off contractA contract awarded to a supplier under an existing framework, either directly or after a further competition between framework suppliers.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/call-off-contract)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Carbon Reduction Plan (PPN 006)A published plan confirming a supplier's commitment to net zero by 2050 and reporting its emissions, required for major central government contracts.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/carbon-reduction-plan)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Central Digital PlatformThe government's online system, run through Find a Tender, where buyers publish Procurement Act notices and suppliers register their details once.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/central-digital-platform)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Clarification questionsQuestions a bidder sends the buyer during a tender to resolve ambiguity, with answers usually shared with every bidder.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/clarification-questions)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Competitive flexible procedureA tendering procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 that the buyer designs itself, which can include shortlisting, negotiation and several rounds.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/competitive-flexible-procedure)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Conflicts of interestA situation where someone involved in a procurement has an interest that could, or could appear to, affect a fair decision.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/conflicts-of-interest)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Contract award noticeA public notice that a buyer intends to enter into a contract with a named supplier, published before the contract is signed.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/contract-award-notice)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Contract details noticeA notice a buyer publishes after signing a public contract, confirming the supplier, value, dates and other key details.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/contract-details-notice)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Contracts FinderThe UK government website, launched in 2015, for lower-value contract opportunities and awards in England, now mainly for older procurements.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/contracts-finder)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026CPV codeA Common Procurement Vocabulary code, a standard numeric label that describes the goods, services or works a public contract is for.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/cpv-code)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Direct awardAwarding a public contract to a supplier without a competitive tender, allowed only where a justification in the Procurement Act 2023 applies.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/direct-award)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Dynamic marketA list of pre-qualified suppliers, open to new members throughout its life, from which buyers run competitions for individual contracts.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/dynamic-market)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Dynamic purchasing system (DPS)An electronic, always-open list of qualified suppliers under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, replaced by dynamic markets for new procurements.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/dynamic-purchasing-system)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026ESPD (European Single Procurement Document)The EU's standard self-declaration form for public tenders, which UK buyers replaced with their own selection questionnaire after leaving the EU.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/espd)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Evaluation weightingThe share of the total score given to each award criterion, showing bidders which parts of their tender matter most.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/evaluation-weighting)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Exclusion grounds and the debarment listThe legal reasons a supplier can or must be barred from public contracts, and the central list of suppliers that Ministers have debarred.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/exclusion-grounds-debarment-list)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Find a TenderThe UK government's procurement notice service, which hosts the Central Digital Platform for notices and supplier registration under the Procurement Act 2023.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/find-a-tender)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026FrameworkAn agreement between a buyer and one or more suppliers that sets the terms for awarding future contracts, without committing to any spend.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/framework)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Incumbent supplierThe supplier currently delivering a contract, usually bidding to keep it when the buyer runs a new procurement.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/incumbent-supplier)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Light touch contractA contract mainly for certain social, health, education and other people-focused services, which follows a more flexible set of procurement rules.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/light-touch-contract)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026LotsSeparate parts of a procurement, divided by type of work or geography, that suppliers can bid for individually.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/lots)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026MEAT (most economically advantageous tender)The legacy test for choosing a winning bid under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, replaced by the most advantageous tender under the 2023 Act.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/meat)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Mini-competitionA short competition run among the suppliers on a framework to award a specific call-off contract.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/mini-competition)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Modern slavery statementAn annual statement, required of larger businesses under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, on steps taken to prevent slavery and trafficking in their supply chains.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/modern-slavery-statement)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Most advantageous tender (MAT)The bid that meets the buyer's requirements and scores best against the published award criteria, which a buyer may award the contract to.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/most-advantageous-tender)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Open procedureA single-stage competitive tender, open to any supplier, where everyone submits a full bid by the same deadline.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/open-procedure)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Payments compliance noticeA notice public buyers publish twice a year showing how well they have met the 30-day payment rule on their public contracts.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/payments-compliance-notice)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Pipeline noticeAn annual notice from buyers spending over £100 million a year, listing contracts over £2 million they plan to tender in the next 18 months.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/pipeline-notice)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Preliminary market engagementConversations a buyer has with suppliers before publishing a tender, to shape its requirements, procedure and contract terms.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/preliminary-market-engagement)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Procurement Act 2023The UK law that has governed most public sector buying in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 24 February 2025.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/procurement-act-2023)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Procurement thresholdsThe contract values, including VAT, at or above which a public contract must follow the full competitive rules of the Procurement Act 2023.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/procurement-thresholds)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Re-tenderA new procurement run for work that is already being delivered under a contract that is ending or being replaced.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/re-tender)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Reserved contracts (PPN 005)Competitions a buyer limits to certain kinds of supplier, such as local SMEs and VCSEs below threshold, or supported employment providers.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/reserved-contracts)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Selection questionnaire (SQ)A standard set of questions buyers use to check a supplier's eligibility, finances and capability before assessing its tender.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/selection-questionnaire)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026SME and VCSESMEs are small and medium-sized enterprises; VCSEs are voluntary, community and social enterprises. Both get specific attention in UK procurement policy.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/sme-vcse)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Social value (PPN 002)The wider economic, social and environmental benefits a supplier commits to deliver through a contract, scored as part of the tender.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/social-value)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Standstill periodA pause of at least eight working days after a contract award notice, during which the buyer cannot sign the contract and bidders can challenge.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/standstill-period)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Tender noticeThe formal notice a buyer publishes to start a competitive procurement, inviting suppliers to tender or to ask to take part.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/tender-notice)
- [Updated 14 Oct 2026Unique identifier and share codeThe unique identifier is your organisation's code on the Central Digital Platform; a share code lets a buyer see your registered supplier information.Read the definition](https://tendernation.io/glossary/unique-identifier-share-code)

[Read our procurement guides →](/guides)[Browse tenders by sector](/sectors)[Look up a buyer](/buyers)

Find your next public contract in minutes

Professional is £49/month with a 14-day free trial. AI summaries, saved-search alerts, a document copilot and a bid pipeline across UK, EU and World Bank tenders.

[Browse live tenders](/opportunities)[Start free trial ](/register)

14-day free trial, no card required