From 1 April 2026, suppliers awarded below-threshold UK public sector contracts must be registered on the Central Digital Platform and hold a unique supplier identifier at the point of contract award. It is the latest phase in the rollout of the Procurement Act 2023 and is intended to improve transparency across the full public sector supply base.

This is also the day Crown Commercial Service became the Government Commercial Agency (GCA), which now runs the Cabinet Office central commercial function.

What has actually changed

The key point: registration is only required by the successful bidder at the point of contract award. You do not need to be registered simply to participate in a below-threshold procurement.

What counts as "below threshold"

Under the Procurement Act 2023, above-threshold contracts are generally those over £139,688 including VAT (figures vary by contract type and authority). Below-threshold contracts sit underneath that value. In practice, the vast majority of public sector opportunities for small and mid-sized suppliers are below threshold — which is why this change is significant.

For England and non-devolved territories, below-threshold contracts over £12,000 (central government) or £30,000 (wider public sector) are still published on Contracts Finder. Above-threshold notices and, since February 2025, full-lifecycle above-threshold notices are on Find a Tender.

How to register on the Central Digital Platform

The registration process is short — typically a few minutes — and only needs to be done once per supplier organisation. If you already registered for an above-threshold procurement at any point in the past, you do not need to register again.

Key points from the official guidance:

• Basic supplier registration is all that is strictly required — you do not need to complete the full supplier information pack at this stage
• Once registered, you receive a unique supplier identifier that must be quoted on the contract award
• The identifier is reusable across future contracts and buyers
• You will need a GOV.UK One Login to access the platform

Why the change matters for small suppliers

For larger firms that already sell to central government, this is administrative noise. For smaller suppliers, local authorities' suppliers, and anyone bidding for below-threshold work for the first time, there are three practical implications:

1. Do not wait to be asked. Registering now takes a few minutes and removes any risk of delay at the award stage.
2. Do not confuse it with bid eligibility. Many suppliers are mistakenly assuming they need registration to participate. They do not — they only need it if they win.
3. Audit trails matter. With unique identifiers flowing through from pipeline to award to termination, contract performance and repeat award patterns become much easier to analyse — both for buyers looking at supplier history and for competitors looking at incumbents.

The Government Commercial Agency takes over

On the same day, Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and several Cabinet Office central commercial teams were consolidated into a new body — the Government Commercial Agency (GCA). Existing CCS frameworks, Dynamic Purchasing Systems and agreements transfer across unchanged. The commercial pipeline page at gca.gov.uk/agreements/upcoming lists the frameworks currently in development, open for bids or recently awarded.

Major frameworks in the near-term pipeline include a new technology products and services agreement, Construction Works and Associated Services 3 (including ProCure 24), and clinical and non-clinical temporary staffing.

What else is happening in UK procurement right now

• Around 1,000+ live tenders currently on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder at any given time
• Hundreds of new notices added each week across all sectors
• IT and technology, health and NHS, construction, consulting, and facilities maintenance remain the highest-volume categories
• Defence-related procurement has increased notably in 2026 given the wider geopolitical backdrop

Practical checklist for suppliers

1. Create or confirm a GOV.UK One Login for your organisation
2. Register as a supplier on the Central Digital Platform (basic registration only)
3. Capture your unique supplier identifier and store it in your bid library
4. Add the identifier to your standard bid response templates
5. Set up alerts on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder for relevant CPV codes
6. Review the GCA upcoming agreements pipeline for frameworks in your sector

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or procurement advice. Thresholds, registration rules and platform requirements are updated from time to time. Suppliers should consult the official GOV.UK guidance and, for complex procurements, take specialist legal or bidding advice.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register before bidding on a below-threshold contract?

No. Registration is only required at the point of contract award. You can participate in below-threshold procurements without being registered, but if you win, you will need to register before the contract is signed.

How long does registration take?

Basic supplier registration typically takes a few minutes. The further optional supplier information steps take longer but are not required at this stage.

Is there a fee to register?

No. Registration on the Central Digital Platform is free.

What if I am already registered?

If you registered previously for any other procurement, you do not need to register again. You keep your existing unique supplier identifier.

Does this apply in Scotland?

Below-threshold contracts in Scotland are published via Public Contracts Scotland rather than Contracts Finder, and the Scottish procurement regime differs in some respects. Suppliers bidding into Scotland should check the specific notice requirements on each opportunity.

What happened to Crown Commercial Service?

Crown Commercial Service became the Government Commercial Agency on 1 April 2026. Existing framework agreements and customer arrangements transfer across unchanged.