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<p>The driving principle behind public procurement policy is to award contracts on
the basis of value for money, which means the optimum combination of cost and quality
over the lifetime of the project. Public sector contracting authorities are required
to purchase products and services through competitive tender in accordance with public
procurement legislation, and are responsible for their own commercial decisions, including
the award of contracts.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government wants UK businesses
to be successful in bidding for UK public contracts. That is why we introduced the
Procurement Bill, currently being considered by Parliament. This Bill will reform
public procurement and make it simpler, quicker and cheaper for suppliers, including
British SMEs and social enterprises, to bid for public sector contracts - lowering
barriers to entry to the market.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We also want UK businesses
to be successful in competing for public contracts in other countries around the world,
which we achieve by negotiating guaranteed market access for UK suppliers in many
international free trade agreements. Our membership of the World Trade Organisation's
Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) gives British businesses access to £1.3 trillion
in public procurement opportunities overseas, including opportunities in some of the
world's major economies.</p><p><strong><p><p><br></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p>
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