Competitive flexible procedure — Procurement Act 2023
The competitive flexible procedure lets a contracting authority design a proportionate competition under the UK Procurement Act 2023, rather than follow the Act’s single-stage open procedure.
How it can work
The procedure may use stages such as participation requests, initial offers, dialogue, negotiation and final tenders. The chosen design must comply with the Act and be explained through the procurement documents.
What to look for
Identify the stages, conditions of participation, rules for reducing the field and the assessment methodology. A supplier should know when it can revise a solution and when an offer becomes final. Do not assume that every flexible procedure includes negotiation.
Which regime applies
This term belongs to the Procurement Act regime. Procurements started under predecessor legislation can remain subject to that legislation, and devolved Scottish procurement has its own rules. Read the notice’s legal basis before mapping a procedure to an old label such as competitive dialogue or negotiated procedure.
Sources
Reviewed: October 27, 2026
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