Part H - Glossary
22. Interpretation
Unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms used in these rules have the meanings stated:
“Agreed Marking Mechanism” is the mechanism which (before the issue of any invitation to tender / quotation or attend interview) has been agreed between the Chief Officer and the Council’s Corporate Procurement Team for the allocation of marks making up the Price/Quality Score (see also Rule 15).
“Central Digital Platform” Under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023), the central digital platform is the enhanced Find a Tender service (FTS). This platform is designed to facilitate the publishing of required notices and documents in accordance with the new regulation.
“Chief Officer” is the Chief Officer of the Council who is responsible for letting and supervising the completion of a contract or of contracts of a particular nature. (Director or Assistant Director)
“Electronic Procurement (e-Procurement)” is a fully electronic procure-to pay process from initial requisition and ordering through to invoicing and payment, and can include e-Auctions, e-Purchasing, e-Tendering and Procurement Cards.
“e-Auctions” is the means of carrying out purchasing negotiations via the Internet. A real time event that occurs online allowing multiple suppliers in different geographic locations to place and modify bids simultaneously.
“e-Tendering” is systems or solutions to enable the tendering / quotation process to be conducted via the Internet. Including advertisement of requirement, documentation production, supplier registration, electronic exchange of documents between supplier and buyer, opening of tenders / quotations, evaluation of submissions, contract award and publication.
“National Procurement Policy Statement” (NPPS) sets out the strategic priorities for public procurement in the UK. It provides guidance on how contracting authorities can support these priorities through their procurement activities.
“Policy Committee” is a Committee of the Council acting together in accordance with the Council’s Delegation Scheme currently applicable.
“Price/Quality Score Matrix” is a matrix showing in respect of all contractors each element of their Price/Performance Score and their total scores.
“Price/Quality Contract under Procurement Act 2023 generally known as Most Advantageous Tender ” is a contract for which the contractor is to be chosen on the basis of a combination of price and performance.
“Price/Quality Ratio” is the comparative importance of price and performance of the product or service expressed as a percentage ratio.
“The Procurement Act 2023 PA 2023” reformed the UK's public procurement system, with the objectives of making it quicker, simpler, and more transparent. It introduces a new regime focused on value for money, competition, and objective criteria, and creates a central digital platform for suppliers to register and bid for contracts and was introduced in February 2025.
“Procurement Cards” are charge cards which work in a similar way to credit cards and can be used to purchase goods and services. Can be open to use by any suppliers or have controls placed upon them by the issuer to limit their use to certain suppliers and/or commodities. They are usually used to process low-value, highvolume transactions.
“The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015)” are a set of rules governing the procurement processes for public sector contracts in the UK, ensuring transparency, fairness, and competition. These were superseded by the Procurement Act 2023 in February 2025 although aspects of PCR2015 will remain for many years in relation to procurements undertaken under PCR 2015 and call offs from frameworks done under PCR 2015.
“Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012” is an Act which places a number of statutory obligations on the Council, in relation to certain elements of its procurement practices, specifically to consider:
- How, what is being proposed to be procured might improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the relevant area (and this is the Authority’s own area (or combined areas if it is a joint procurement) in which it ‘primarily exercised its functions’)
- How, in conducting the procurement process, it might act with a view to securing that improvement (although the Act makes it clear, in order to remain in line with EU law, that anything under this limb much be relevant and proportionate in respect of the proposed contract);
- Whether they need to undertake any consultation about the two limbs of the duty as set out above.
“Quotation” for the purposes of this document is an offer submitted by a supplier to the Council via a procurement process where the suppliers participating in the procurement process have been selected by the Council, as opposed to their involvement occurring as a result of them responding to an advertised, open invitation, available to all interested suppliers.
“Tender” for the purposes of this document is an offer submitted by a supplier to the Council via a procurement process which required suppliers to respond to an advertised opportunity, such opportunity being made equally available to all interested suppliers.