Definition
Public Contracts Regulations 2015(PCR 2015)
The previous rulebook for UK public procurement.
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) implemented EU procurement directives into UK law and governed most public sector tendering in England, Wales and Northern Ireland until the Procurement Act 2023 took over. Procurements started before the Act's commencement generally continue under PCR 2015 to completion, so it remains relevant to many live contracts.
Core features suppliers will recognise
PCR 2015 set out the standard procurement procedures (open, restricted, competitive dialogue, competitive procedure with negotiation, innovation partnership), the exclusion and selection rules, and the mandatory standstill period before contract award.
It also introduced the Selection Questionnaire (SQ), often still called PQQ informally, as the standard way of gathering supplier eligibility and capability information before detailed tender evaluation.
- Standard procedures: open, restricted, competitive dialogue, competitive procedure with negotiation
- Mandatory and discretionary exclusion grounds
- Ten calendar day standstill period (extended for electronic communication in some cases)
- Selection Questionnaire (SQ) for pre-qualification
Why it still matters
Contracts awarded under PCR 2015 continue to be governed by it for remedies, variations and challenges, even after the Procurement Act 2023 is in force for new procurements. Suppliers involved in disputes or contract changes on older agreements need to check which regime the original procurement ran under.
Many buyers' internal processes, template documents and staff training were built around PCR 2015 terminology, so it is still common to see references to it in practice even on newer tenders during any transitional confusion.
Frequently asked questions
- Is PCR 2015 still in force?
- PCR 2015 has been replaced by the Procurement Act 2023 for new procurements advertised after the Act's commencement date, but it continues to govern procurements and contracts that started under the old rules until they conclude.
- What is the difference between PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023?
- PCR 2015 implemented EU directives with fixed procedures like open and restricted; the Procurement Act 2023 simplifies these into fewer, more flexible procedures, introduces a central digital platform, and changes exclusion, debarment and transparency rules. The underlying principles of fair competition and transparency remain similar.
- Which contracts are still covered by PCR 2015?
- Contracts and procurements formally started (typically meaning the notice was published) before the Procurement Act 2023 commencement date generally remain under PCR 2015 until award and, in many respects, for the life of the contract.
Related terms