Public Procurement and Property

SPPN 5/2026: cross-border co-operation within the UK 

February 18, 2026 by Scottish Procurement No Comments | Category Procurement news, Scottish Procurement

Our latest Scottish Procurement Policy Note (SPPN) provides public bodies with guidance on the legal obligations which apply when devolved Scottish public bodies co-operate with reserved, Welsh or Northern Irish public bodies on the award of contracts. 

Since the introduction of the UK’s Procurement Act 2023, the rules have changed for procurement processes carried out by reserved UK public bodies, as well as Welsh and Northern Irish public bodies. Because there are now different rules for procurement procedures across the UK, the Scottish and UK Governments have made extra legislation setting out the rules which apply when devolved Scottish public bodies co-operate with reserved, Welsh or Northern Irish public bodies. 

In summary the new arrangements mean that whenever a devolved Scottish public body awards a contract under a framework or dynamic market established under the Procurement Act 2023, that Act will largely apply to the call-off procedure. However, when a reserved, Welsh or Northern Irish public body awards a contract under a framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system established under Scottish legislation, the Scottish legislation will largely apply to the call-off procedure. 

For more information on these arrangements, please see the policy note on our website. 

For further information on public procurement in Scotland please visit www.gov.scot/procurement

Please email enquiries to scottishprocurement@gov.scot

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