The ongoing public consultation on the Procurement (Transparency) Regulations provides a clearer picture of the upcoming UK central digital platform for procurement notices and contract registration.

This enhancement to the "Find A Tender Service" promises significant advancements in market participation, competition, transparency, and data utilization. The forthcoming Procurement Act could mark this as a pivotal shift in the procurement landscape.

The new platform will consolidate the process. Presently, English and central government authorities must issue separate notices in varying formats for most tendering and contract awards on both Contracts Finder and the Find a Tender service, which succeeded OJEU. This has led suppliers to juggle between two platforms for opportunities.

The revamped platform will centralize information on the pre-procurement phase. For instance, the introduction of a Procurement Termination Notice for aborted tenders could address the issue of missing contract award notices, especially evident during the Covid era.

The platform's transparency is set to rise, especially concerning contract awards under frameworks, thanks to the Contract Details Notice for Frameworks. Additionally, there's anticipation for a higher number of contract publications.

The debut of unique identifiers for contracting authorities and suppliers will provide deeper insights into procurement details, such as buyer-seller relationships and transaction values.

Transitioning from four statutory instruments (SI) to a single Procurement Act, reinforced by this SI, is expected to streamline compliance for contracting authorities.

With the consultation deadline approaching on 25th August, stakeholders have a golden opportunity to influence the successors of Contracts Finder and Find a Tender Service. Your feedback on the draft regulations is invaluable.