Contract Performance Notices under the Procurement Act 2023 – what you need to know

One of the most significant changes in the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) is the introduction of Contract Performance Notices (CPNs). These notices are designed to improve transparency, accountability, and supplier performance across the public sector.

What’s changing?

• Mandatory reporting – For contracts above the threshold, authorities must publish CPNs where suppliers fail to meet KPIs, milestones, or delivery standards.
• Performance records – Poor performance flagged through CPNs may affect a supplier’s ability to win future contracts.
• Transparency for all – Notices will be publicly available, giving stakeholders visibility of supplier track records.

What to look out for as a buyer?

• Embed clear KPIs – Ensure your contracts include measurable, realistic, and relevant KPIs from the outset.
• Consistent monitoring – Put processes in place to capture performance data regularly and objectively.
• Fairness and evidence – Decisions to issue a CPN must be based on documented evidence and applied consistently.
• Future impact – Remember that CPNs can influence supplier standing across government, so accuracy and balance are critical.

This change puts greater emphasis on robust contract management. For buyers, it’s an opportunity to strengthen supplier accountability while reinforcing trust and fairness in public procurement.

Training Support

A cornerstone of V4’s support is the delivery of training in procurement and contract management. It’s part of our customer experience, empowering stakeholders involved with procurement and contract management helping them to get the most out of client engagement with V4.

We deliver training on PA23, Contract Management and Managing Contract Risk, Embedding Social Value and Sustainability, Negotiation and Commercial Training.