Procurement Policy Note 18/15: New Threshold Levels 2016 · first published 10 December 2015
This Procurement Policy Note (PPN) set out updated contract value thresholds under the Public Contracts Regulations, coming into force on 1 January 2016. It applied to all contracting authorities across the whole public sector, including central government departments, executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies, and the wider public sector. It also covered utilities under the Utilities Contracts Regulations. However, the document is now explicitly marked as out of date. Small businesses should refer to the replacement note, PPN 10/21: Thresholds & Inclusion of VAT, for the current rules.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
This document is superseded and has no current practical relevance for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) bidding for public contracts today. The only action it warrants is to ensure you are reading the replacement, PPN 10/21, for up-to-date threshold figures. Do not rely on any numbers or rules from this PPN when preparing bids.
1. Discard any threshold figures from PPN 18/15 and read PPN 10/21: Thresholds & Inclusion of VAT for the current, binding threshold levels.
All suppliers bidding for public contracts — The document explicitly states it is out of date and directs readers to PPN 10/21, meaning any thresholds here no longer reflect the legal position.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
PPN 18/15 is now out of date and has been superseded by PPN 10/21: Thresholds & Inclusion of VAT. (All contracting authorities previously in scope of PPN 18/15)
“This Procurement Policy Note (PPN) is now out of date. Please refer to PPN 10/21: Thresholds & Inclusion of VAT”
The threshold levels set out in this PPN came into force on 1 January 2016. (All contracting authorities, from 1 January 2016 (now superseded))
“They come into force on 1 January 2016.”
The note applied to all contracting authorities, including all central government departments, executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies, and the wider public sector. (All public sector contracting authorities (now superseded))
“This note applies to all contracting authorities, as defined by the Regulations. This will include all central government departments, their executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and the wider public sector.”
The note also contained information relevant to utilities as defined by the Utilities Contracts Regulations. (Utilities sector (now superseded))
“This note also contains information relevant to utilities as defined by the Utilities Contracts Regulations.”
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.