Overview
The guidance documents are intended to provide technical guidance and help with interpretation and understanding of the Procurement Act 2023.
These documents should be read in conjunction with the Procurement Act 2023 and its associated regulations and are aimed at procurement practitioners and commercial policy leads in contracting authorities. They are intended to provide technical guidance and help with interpretation and understanding of the Procurement Act 2023.
Light touch contracts are contracts for certain social, health, education and other public services and are subject to more flexible procurement rules. One thing these services have in common is that they are services provided directly to individuals or groups of people and therefore warrant special treatment and greater flexibility. The Act contains specific derogations and flexibilities for these types of contracts but where there is no specific provision for light touch contracts, there is no difference from the general provisions in the Act.
Legal framework
- Section 9
- Schedule 1
Other guidance relevant to this area
Contracting authorities awarding light touch contracts will need to understand the whole of the Act, as the same provisions (for example, relating to competitive tendering procedures, conditions of participation and award criteria) as apply to contracting authorities awarding other contracts apply.
The following guidance is of particular relevance in determining whether a contract will be governed by the provisions in the Act for light touch contracts:
- Thresholds
- Exempted contracts
- Mixed procurement