Procurement Act 2023 - Guidance

Technical specifications

In: Define > Sourcing strategy

Overview

The guidance documents are intended to provide technical guidance and help with interpretation and understanding of the Procurement Act 2023.

The guidance 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.

Technical specifications set out the technical requirements for the goods, works, or services that a contracting authority is purchasing.

The characteristics set out in technical specifications could relate to, for example, quality, performance, safety, dimensions, the process and methods of the production, packaging, marking and labelling. Technical specifications are included, where relevant, in the procurement documents to provide suppliers with a full description of the contracting authority’s requirements. This enables suppliers to consider whether to participate in a procurement and to prepare and submit their tender, request or application. They also help to ensure that contracting authorities and suppliers have a common understanding of the requirements.

Technical specifications can play a key role in driving up quality. This includes through the use of recognised standards, and, where appropriate, by requiring evidence that standards are met, for example through certification, conformity assessment and accreditation. They can also help to ensure that what is procured complies with wider legislative requirements, such as the public sector equality duty, and aligns with industry best practice. Technical specifications can also be critical in ensuring value for money when requirements are set in such a way as to take whole-lifecycle cost and other considerations into account.