UK supplier guide
Procurement policy notes:
every Act PPN for suppliers
Procurement policy notes (PPNs) are how the government tells public buyers to apply a policy in procurement. Those written for the Procurement Act 2023 carry three-digit numbers, PPN 001 to PPN 026, and apply to procurements commenced on or after 24 February 2025.
Search UK tenders →Checked against primary sources1 source linked below
- Check the regime
- Find the requirement
- Read the PPN
- Keep evidence current
PPN 001 to 026
The Procurement Act notes, for procurements from 24 February 2025.Six that touch your bid
Carbon, social value, cyber, payment, AI and modern slavery.
What is a procurement policy note?
Guidance used to communicate new policies to be applied to public procurement and to support putting them into practice.
GOV.UK describes procurement policy notes and their supporting guidance as used “to communicate new policies to be applied to public procurement activities and to support practical implementation” (PPN collection).
The collection separates Procurement Act 2023 PPNs from the older notes for procurements under the previous regulations, and moves superseded notes to an out-of-date section.
- PPN 001 onwards, for procurements commenced from 24 February 2025.
- Numbered by year, such as PPN 06/21, for earlier procurements.
- Superseded notes are moved to their own section.
- Enquiries go to info@gca.gov.uk.
Which Procurement Act PPNs are there?
Twenty-four in the current list, PPN 001 to PPN 026; PPN 010 and PPN 015 are not in it.
| PPN | Title | Dated |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | SME and VCSE procurement spend targets | 13 Feb 2025 |
| 002 | Taking account of social value in the award of contracts | 5 Mar 2025 |
| 003 | The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 004 | Open Book Contract Management | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 005 | Reserving below threshold procurements | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 006 | Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts | 10 Jul 2025 |
| 007 | Contracts with Russia and Belarus | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 008 | Armed Forces Covenant | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 009 | Tackling modern slavery in government supply chains | 16 Oct 2025 |
| 011 | The Commercial Playbooks | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 012 | Security Classifications Policy | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 013 | Using standard contracts | 25 Apr 2025 |
| 014 | Cyber essentials scheme | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 016 | Carbon Reduction Contract Schedule | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 017 | Improving transparency of AI use in procurement | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 018 | How to take account of a supplier's approach to payment in the procurement of major contracts | 24 Apr 2025 |
| 019 | Requirements to publish on Contracts Finder | 31 Mar 2025 |
| 020 | Guidance on data protection legislation | 24 Apr 2025 |
| 021 | Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts | 8 Oct 2025 |
| 022 | Procuring steel in government contracts | 13 Jul 2026 |
| 023 | 2026 Threshold Amounts | 27 Nov 2025 |
| 024 | The Public Interest Test and Insourcing Strategy | 17 Jun 2026 |
| 025 | Protecting the UK’s national security through public procurement | 3 Jul 2026 |
| 026 | The social value model | 5 Aug 2026 |
How should a bid team use PPNs?
Read the PPN the documents cite, then answer the documents.
- Start with the source01
Check the regime
Act PPNs apply to procurements from 24 February 2025. - Define the scope02
Find the requirement
The tender documents say what to submit. - Read the evidence03
Read the PPN
It explains the policy and how it is assessed. - Make the decision04
Keep evidence current
Carbon plan, modern slavery, Cyber Essentials, payment data. - Name the next action05
Watch the collection
New notes and withdrawals are dated on GOV.UK.
A supplier’s review sequence, based on the primary sources below. It is not a measured outcome or a prescribed buyer timetable.
Which PPNs change what a supplier has to submit?
The ones a buyer turns into a selection or contract requirement: carbon reduction plans, social value, modern slavery, Cyber Essentials, payment and AI use.
| If the tender asks for… | Read | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| A carbon reduction plan | PPN 006 | Carbon reduction plan |
| A social value response | PPN 002 and PPN 026 | Social value in tenders |
| Cyber Essentials certification | PPN 014 | Cyber Essentials for tenders |
| Your approach to paying your supply chain | PPN 018 | — |
| Questions about AI use in your bid | PPN 017 | AI tools for bids |
| Modern slavery information | PPN 009 | — |
Do tender notices say which PPN applies?
Rarely: only 57 notice summaries in a year named a PPN or a procurement policy note.
| Notice titles and descriptions, 1 Oct 2025 to 30 Sep 2026 | Records |
|---|---|
| Naming a PPN or “procurement policy note” | 57 |
| Using the words “procurement policy note” | 16 |
| Naming PPN 006 by its three-digit number | 13 |
| Naming PPN 002 | 2 |
| Naming PPN 005 | 2 |
How should a bid team keep up with PPNs?
Check the collection when a tender opens, read the PPN the documents cite, and keep your standard evidence current.
- Before you start01
Use the current documents
Check the primary publication and later changes before using the sequence below. - Check 202
Find the regime first
Act PPNs apply to procurements commenced on or after 24 February 2025; older procurements may cite older notes. See the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. - Check 303
Read the PPN the documents name
The buyer’s documents say which requirement applies; the PPN explains why and how it is assessed (collection). - Check 404
Keep standard evidence ready
A carbon reduction plan, a modern slavery statement, a Cyber Essentials certificate and payment data belong to the company, not the bid: keep them current between tenders. - Follow through05
Watch the change log
The collection lists each addition and withdrawal with its date (collection).
An editorial order of work, not a buyer's fixed timetable. The current notice and documents determine participation and submission.
The PPN explains the policy; the tender documents say what you must submit.
PPN 001 to 026
The Procurement Act notes, for procurements from 24 February 2025.Six that touch your bid
Carbon, social value, cyber, payment, AI and modern slavery.Read the documents
Notices rarely name the PPN that applies.
Free: notices from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, with links to the originals and their documents.
What else should you know about procurement policy notes?
Check these points before committing your team’s time.
What is a procurement policy note?
How many Procurement Act PPNs are there?
What is PPN 006?
What is PPN 017?
What is PPN 023?
Do PPNs apply to every public buyer?
Where can you check the evidence?
Read the primary publication and the buyer’s current documents before acting.
| Source | What it supports |
|---|---|
| Procurement policy notes · GOV.UK ↗ | The Act PPN list, titles, dates and change log; read 25 October 2026. |
Which guide answers your next question?
Follow the part of the bid you need to work on next.