Procurement Policy Note 02/15: Public Contracts Regulations 2015 · first published 6 February 2015
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) transpose the 2014 EU Public Sector Procurement Directive into UK law and include reforms recommended by Lord Young of Graffham to improve small business access to public contracts. The Regulations came into force on 26 February 2015 and apply to all new procurements starting on or after that date, with a small number of exceptions listed in the Regulations themselves. This is the foundational legal framework governing how public buyers must run procurement processes. Because we only have the summary text and not the full document, specific rules, thresholds and weightings within the Regulations cannot be confirmed from this source alone. Small businesses bidding for public contracts should familiarise themselves with the PCR 2015 and the accompanying government guidance on the EU procurement directives.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
The PCR 2015 is the cornerstone legal framework for UK public procurement and explicitly incorporated Lord Young's SME-accessibility reforms — meaning small businesses were a named priority in its design. However, because only the summary text is available here, the precise SME-friendly provisions (such as rules on payment terms, selection criteria proportionality, or procurement packaging) cannot be verified from this source. SMEs should read the full Regulations and official guidance to understand the specific rights and protections available to them.
1. Read the full Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the official government guidance on implementing the EU procurement directives to understand your rights, the process buyers must follow, and the SME-accessibility provisions introduced by the Lord Young reforms.
All SMEs bidding for public contracts — The Regulations explicitly aim to make public procurement more accessible to small businesses, and understanding them helps SMEs spot when a buyer is not following the rules.
2. Check whether any procurement you are responding to started on or after 26 February 2015 — if so, the PCR 2015 rules apply and you can hold buyers to them.
All SMEs bidding for public contracts — The Regulations apply to procurements starting on or after 26 February 2015, so knowing this date tells you which legal framework governs your bid.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 came into force on 26 February 2015. (All procurements within scope of the Regulations)
“The Regulations are due to come into force on 26 February 2015.”
The new rules apply to procurements starting on or after 26 February 2015, except for a small number of procurements listed in the Regulations. (All in-scope procurements commencing from 26 February 2015)
“The new rules apply to procurements starting on or after this date, except for a small number of procurements listed in the Regulations.”
The Regulations implement the 2014 EU Public Sector Procurement Directive and Lord Young reforms, with an explicit aim to make public procurement more accessible to small businesses. (All public sector buyers subject to the Regulations)
“They aim to make public procurement more accessible to small businesses.”
This briefing is enkii's interpretation of the official document — the official text always governs.
Source document © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0 via the GOV.UK Content API. enkii tracks every Procurement Policy Note and briefs changes the day they land — see all briefings.