03 March 2026 
Ashley Shelbrooke, Procurement Specialist
The Procurement Compliance Service (PCS) officially opened for referrals last week, marking a change in how public procurement is investigated and improved across the UK.
Introduced as part of the oversight framework under the Procurement Act 2023, the PCS will work with contracting authorities to increase capability, improve processes and drive compliance with the Act, for the benefit of everyone involved in public procurement. The PCS has a broad remit, spanning both central government and the wider public sector, including the NHS, local authorities and universities.
The PCS sits alongside the existing Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS). While the PPRS investigates individual supplier concerns about specific procurements, the PCS takes a wider view, examining systemic patterns or institutional issues. Crucially, anyone can make a referral to the PCS, not just suppliers. Following an investigation, where appropriate, the PCS may issue recommendations to the contracting authority regarding the action it should take to comply with the Act and/or guidance that applies to contracting authorities more generally.
