Source: https://tendernation.io/glossary/conflicts-of-interest Glossary # Conflicts of interest A situation where someone involved in a procurement has an interest that could, or could appear to, affect a fair decision. Updated 14 Oct 2026 A conflict of interest arises when a person involved in running a procurement, or a Minister acting in relation to it, has a personal or business interest that could stop them acting fairly. Under the Procurement Act 2023 buyers must identify, keep under review and manage these conflicts throughout the process. ## What it means The duties are in [sections 81 to 83 of the Procurement Act 2023](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/81): - **Section 81** requires the buyer to take all reasonable steps to identify, and keep under review, conflicts and potential conflicts of interest. - **[Section 82](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/82)** requires the buyer to take all reasonable steps to make sure a conflict does not put any supplier at an unfair advantage or disadvantage. Those steps can include asking a supplier to take action. - **[Section 83](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/83)** requires a written "conflicts assessment" before the buyer publishes a tender or transparency notice, kept up to date through the procurement. The government's [conflicts of interest guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-define-phase/guidance-conflicts-of-interest-html) explains that perception matters as well as actual bias. ## Why it matters for SMEs Small markets are full of personal connections. A former employee of the buyer now working for you, a director who sits on a local board, or a family link to an evaluator can all be conflicts. Declared and managed, they are rarely a problem. Hidden and discovered later, they look far worse. Under [section 30](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/30), a supplier that gives misleading information or unduly influences the buyer's decision can be [excluded](/glossary/exclusion-grounds-debarment-list) from the competition. The duty also protects you. If you suspect a competitor has an inside track, you can ask the buyer how conflicts have been assessed. ## Practical tip Keep a simple register of your team's links to public bodies you bid to: past employment, board seats, family and close business relationships. When a tender asks you to declare conflicts, check the register rather than relying on memory, and disclose anything borderline with a short note on how it is managed. Find tenders that fit your business Search UK, EU and World Bank tenders in one place, get AI summaries and a fit score for each one, and track bids in a pipeline. Professional comes with a 14-day free trial, no card needed. [Browse live tenders](/opportunities)[Start free trial ](/register) 14-day free trial, no card required Browse by sector - [Construction work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/construction-work)6909 - [Architecture, engineering & surveying](https://tendernation.io/sectors/architecture-engineering-surveying)3889 - [IT services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/it-services)1708 - [Business services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/business-services)2423 - [Health and social work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/health-social-work)1038 - [Sewage, refuse, cleaning & environmental](https://tendernation.io/sectors/sewage-refuse-cleaning-environmental)3350 [All sectors ](/sectors) ## Nearby terms - [CCentral Digital PlatformThe government's online system, run through Find a Tender, where buyers publish Procurement Act notices and suppliers register their details once.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/central-digital-platform) - [CClarification questionsQuestions a bidder sends the buyer during a tender to resolve ambiguity, with answers usually shared with every bidder.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/clarification-questions) - [CCompetitive flexible procedureA tendering procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 that the buyer designs itself, which can include shortlisting, negotiation and several rounds.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/competitive-flexible-procedure) - [CContract award noticeA public notice that a buyer intends to enter into a contract with a named supplier, published before the contract is signed.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/contract-award-notice) - [CContract details noticeA notice a buyer publishes after signing a public contract, confirming the supplier, value, dates and other key details.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/contract-details-notice) - [CContracts FinderThe UK government website, launched in 2015, for lower-value contract opportunities and awards in England, now mainly for older procurements.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/contracts-finder) [Read our procurement guides ](/guides)