Government Standard Contracts for Procurement
These template contracts are for use by government for the procurement of goods and services under the Procurement Act 2023.
This page brings together the various template contracts owned by the Cabinet Office, and updated by the Government Legal Department.
Each contract has a separate page, containing the template contract, guidance documents, and lists of changes between different versions.
If you have any feedback on the use of these contracts, would like a copy of any of the previous versions, or have any queries, please email modelservicescontract@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Overview of the Cabinet Office Standard Contracts
These template contracts are for use by government for the procurement of goods and services under the Procurement Act 2023.
There are three Cabinet Office Standard Contracts:
- The Model Services Contract (‘MSC’) - for high value, complex services;
- The Mid-Tier Contract – for medium value, non-complex goods and services;
- The Short Form Contract - primarily for below-threshold, low value, non-complex goods and services. It can also be used for above-threshold non-complex goods and services, where proportionate and appropriate.
They aim to incorporate relevant procurement policies, such as those set out in the Sourcing Playbook and associated Guidance Notes, and Procurement Act 2023 Procurement Policy Notes.
These contracts are for government to use when purchasing bespoke goods or services, or goods or services that cannot be facilitated by a suitable government commercial tool, such as a Crown Commercial Service (‘CCS’) Framework.
They can be used for the Open Procedure, Competitive Flexible Procedure and Dynamic Markets. They could also be used for Direct Award but may require some amendments. They cannot be used for Framework Agreements.
Further guidance about when each of these contracts should be used can be found in the guidance documents published with each of the contracts.
PPN 013 – Using Standard Contracts
PPN 013 – Using Standard Contracts applies to all central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.
This PPN states that where these organisations are purchasing bespoke goods or services, or goods or services that cannot be facilitated by a suitable government commercial tool, such as a CCS Framework they should adopt one of the Cabinet Office Standard Contracts outlined above as the basis for all relevant procurements, rather than creating bespoke contracts.
The PPN notes that these need not be used where a more suitable form of contract is available - for example, Departmental terms and conditions attached to purchase orders for very low value procurements, a government framework, or an industry-specific contract, such as those available for construction.
Public sector contracting authorities that do not fall within the scope of the PPN are welcome to use these contracts, and/or have regard to them when updating their own terms and conditions.
The CCS Public Sector Contract
The Crown Commercial Service (‘CCS’) is an executive agency of the Cabinet Office and the UK’s biggest public procurement organisation.
CCS has developed a standard template for framework contracts for common goods and services – the Public Sector Contract. This contract is the basis for many CCS agreements, including Framework Contracts, amended as required for the particular agreement.
Cabinet Office and CCS aim to work closely together to ensure the three Cabinet Office Standard Contracts and the Public Sector Contract are updated in line with each other, where it makes sense to do so.