Procurement policy note 09/15: assisting with procurement investigations · first published 1 June 2015
PPN 09/15 sets out statutory requirements for certain contracting authorities (primarily central government bodies) to cooperate with procurement investigations run by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Mystery Shopper service. The Mystery Shopper service was renamed the Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS) on 29 November 2018. This service allows suppliers — including small businesses — to report concerns or complaints about public procurement processes, which the PPRS then investigates. The note is directed at buyers (contracting authorities), not suppliers directly, but it is useful context for small firms to know this complaints route exists and carries statutory weight for the buyers involved.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
For SMEs, the practical opportunity here is awareness: the Public Procurement Review Service is a formal, statutory channel you can use if you believe a contracting authority has run a procurement unfairly or in breach of the rules. The fact that compliance is a statutory requirement for in-scope buyers means your complaint cannot simply be ignored. However, because we only have the summary text of this document, the precise scope of which authorities are covered and the exact procedural requirements are not fully confirmed.
1. If you believe a contracting authority has run a procurement unfairly, submit a complaint to the Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS) — the renamed Mystery Shopper service — via GOV.UK.
SMEs who have experienced a poor or potentially unlawful procurement process — PPN 09/15 establishes statutory requirements for in-scope authorities to cooperate with PPRS investigations, meaning your complaint must be taken seriously by the buyer.
2. Make a note that the service is now called the Public Procurement Review Service (not Mystery Shopper), and use its current name when searching for it or referencing it in correspondence.
All SMEs bidding for public contracts — The document confirms the name changed on 29/11/18; using the old name may cause confusion when seeking help or submitting a complaint.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
The note introduces statutory requirements for certain authorities to comply with procurement investigations conducted by the CCS Mystery Shopper service. (Certain contracting authorities in scope of PPN 09/15)
“This note explains new statutory requirements for certain authorities to comply with procurement investigations conducted by the Crown Commercial Service Mystery Shopper service.”
The Mystery Shopper Service was renamed the Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS) on 29 November 2018. (All references to CCS Mystery Shopper service from 29 November 2018 onwards)
“Please note the Mystery Shopper Service changed name to the Public Procurement Review Service from 29/11/18”
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.