Source: https://tendernation.io/glossary/direct-award Glossary # Direct award Awarding a public contract to a supplier without a competitive tender, allowed only where a justification in the Procurement Act 2023 applies. Updated 14 Oct 2026 A direct award is when a buyer awards a public contract to a single supplier without running a competition. Under the Procurement Act 2023 it is the exception, allowed only where a specific justification applies, and the buyer must announce it publicly before awarding. ## What it means [Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/41) allows a direct award where a "direct award justification" applies. The justifications are listed in [Schedule 5](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/schedule/5) and include cases such as prototypes and development, situations where only one supplier can do the work, and urgency. [Section 43](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/43) also allows a buyer to switch to a direct award if a competitive procedure attracted no suitable tenders. Before awarding directly, the buyer must publish a transparency notice under [section 44](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/44), saying it intends to award the contract directly. In most cases a contract award notice and standstill period follow, so there is a short window to challenge. Direct award in this sense is different from a direct award under a [framework](/glossary/framework), where the framework itself sets the terms and an objective way of choosing a supplier. ## Why it matters for SMEs Direct awards often go to incumbents or to suppliers the buyer already knows. If a buyer directly awards work you could have delivered, the transparency notice is your chance to find out why. The government's [direct award guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-define-phase/direct-award-html) explains what buyers must consider. ## Practical tip Set alerts for transparency notices in your sector, not just tender notices. If a buyer claims only one supplier can do the work and you know that is not true, contact the buyer quickly with evidence of your capability. Even if the award stands, you are now on their radar for next time, and you can track the contract end date for the [re-tender](/glossary/re-tender). 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)374 - [Architecture, engineering & surveying](https://tendernation.io/sectors/architecture-engineering-surveying)134 - [IT services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/it-services)54 - [Business services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/business-services)177 - [Health and social work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/health-social-work)300 - [Sewage, refuse, cleaning & environmental](https://tendernation.io/sectors/sewage-refuse-cleaning-environmental)80 [All sectors ](/sectors) ## Nearby terms [Contract 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)[Contracts 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)[CPV codeA Common Procurement Vocabulary code, a standard numeric label that describes the goods, services or works a public contract is for.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/cpv-code)[Dynamic marketA list of pre-qualified suppliers, open to new members throughout its life, from which buyers run competitions for individual contracts.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/dynamic-market)[Dynamic purchasing system (DPS)An electronic, always-open list of qualified suppliers under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, replaced by dynamic markets for new procurements.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/dynamic-purchasing-system)[ESPD (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.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/espd) [Read our procurement guides ](/guides)