The Procurement Act 2023 marks a significant evolution in public procurement across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Among its most impactful changes is the introduction of a new Noticing Regime: a structured, transparent framework that replaces previous fragmented approaches to procurement.
For suppliers already familiar with the public procurement landscape, this regime introduces greater predictability, clearer timelines and more consistent market signals. But it also creates new expectations – and opportunities – for how suppliers engage with upcoming work, navigate tender processes and stay informed throughout the contract lifecycle.
We have mapped out the key notices that guide the procurement process from pipeline planning to contract closure.
A cohesive framework for transparency
At the heart of the new regime are 17 distinct notice types, each assigned a UK identifier (UK1-UK17) with currently 14 of these forms live with the remaining 3 due to be launched by the Cabinet Office later this year. These notices are designed to provide structured, consistent communication across all procurement stages – from pipeline planning and market engagement to contract award and performance tracking.
This standardisation should be welcomed by suppliers. Rather than chasing inconsistent or delayed updates across different portals or frameworks, suppliers will now have a clearer view of when and where to expect key information – and how to act on it.
For clarity, we have grouped these notices into three distinct stages within our Business Intelligence platform:
- Early stage:
- Pipeline notice: UK1
- Pre-tender: UK2, UK3 & UK13
- Tender stage:
- Live notices: UK4
- Deadline passed: UK4
- Deadline unknown: UK4
- Procurement cancelled: UK12 (for notices only)
- Contract awarded:
- Awards not started: UK5, UK6 & UK12 (for awards only)
- Awards in progress: UK7 & UK10
- Awards ended: UK11
From pipeline to procurement: building early awareness
The regime begins with three pre-tender notices that aim to give the market a forward view:
- UK1 – Pipeline Notice is now mandatory for contracting authorities spending over £100 million annually. Published between 1 April and 26 May, it outlines contracts (and dynamic markets) expected over the next 18 months with an estimated value above £2 million. For suppliers, this is the first and most critical point of visibility into future opportunities.
- UK2 – Preliminary Market Engagement Notice formalises early conversations between buyers and suppliers. It outlines how authorities intend to (or have already) engaged the market ahead of a formal tender. While previously optional, UK2 is now essential: where authorities conduct early engagement on above-threshold procurements, they must publish this notice – or explain why they have not.
- UK3 – Planned Procurement Notice is optional but strategic. If published 40 days to one year before a tender notice, it allows authorities to reduce tender periods to just 10 days. For suppliers, it signals that a live opportunity is imminent – and that fast mobilisation may be required.
The tendering core: Competing and awarding contracts
- Once an authority moves into formal competition, several notices come into play:
- The UK4 – Tender Notice launches the bidding process. For above-threshold procurements, the standard minimum tender window is 25 days, assuming electronic access and documentation are in place. Suppliers should treat the UK4 as the definitive go-live point of the procurement process.
- Where a contract is being directly awarded, whether due to legal justification or a failed open procedure, a UK5 – Transparency Notice is published instead. This ensures even non-competitive processes are documented and accessible to the market.
- Following selection, the UK6 – Contract Award Notice is published before a contract is signed. This is a key milestone for suppliers, as it triggers a standstill period (usually eight working days) during which unsuccessful bidders can raise challenges or request further detail.
Clarity after award: lifecycle and contract management notices
Post-award, the regime introduces greater transparency around contract performance and changes:
- The UK7 – Contract Details Notice must be published within 30 days of contract signing (or 120 days for light-touch regimes). For contracts over £5 million, a redacted version of the contract must also be published within 90 days.
- If any material change is made – such as to value, term, or scope – a UK10 – Contract Change Notice must be issued ahead of the modification. Again, if the revised contract exceeds £5 million, a redacted copy must be published.
When a contract ends, either at completion or termination, the UK11 – Contract Termination Notice must be published within 30 days. If the procurement ends without a contract being signed, a UK12 – Procurement Termination Notice is issued instead.
For suppliers, these notices are useful both for confirming closure and for monitoring competitors and repeat opportunities as they cycle through the public market.
Supporting innovation: notices for Dynamic Markets
A separate set of notices applies to Dynamic Markets – flexible systems allowing for rolling supplier participation. These include:
- UK13 – Intention Notice (market is planned)
- UK14 – Establishment Notice (market opens and lists initial suppliers)
- UK15 – Modification Notice (suppliers are added or removed)
- UK16 – Cessation Notice (market is formally closed)
While these may not apply to all suppliers, they offer agile routes to market, especially for IT, digital services or recurring low-value spend.
A strategic opportunity for suppliers
For established suppliers, the Noticing Regime is more than a bureaucratic exercise. It offers:
- Earlier visibility of high-value pipeline work
- Predictable tendering patterns aligned to notice sequencing
- New insight into contract modifications, performance and re-procurement cycles
- Greater ability to challenge or seek clarification through transparent award and standstill mechanisms
Understanding the new regime will help suppliers better plan business development efforts, resource bids more efficiently and engage with public buyers on stronger terms. Driven by innovative data, Tracker offers in-depth analysis of market trends, buyer behaviours and supplier interactions, delivering actionable intelligence to support your early engagement strategies.