The Role(s) of Civil Society and the Public in Public Procurement and Government Contracting

Session overview

Public procurement shapes much of public life, yet the conversations about how government spends, and who gets to take part in those decisions, often happen behind closed doors.

This session of the Oxford POGO Club will consider the evolving role of civil society and the public in promoting accountability and transparency in government contracting. How can citizens and organisations engage meaningfully in procurement processes? What mechanisms best support scrutiny, participation, and trust?

Recent reforms have placed these questions in sharper focus. The Procurement Act 2023 introduces new transparency requirements, including supplier registration, procurement notices, and a central digital platform for spending data. The National Procurement Policy Statement also calls for public contracts to advance broader “social value” objectives in areas such as environment, employment, and community wellbeing.

While these developments mark progress, they also raise concerns about implementation and oversight. Some have questioned the accountability mechanisms attached to social value, and the extent to which established civil society organisations are being engaged in reforms that affect their areas of expertise, from housing and justice to climate and sustainability.

This session brings together experts from across sectors: from civil society, research, journalism, and civic technology. Together, they will discuss what meaningful engagement might look like, how open data and digital tools can support collaboration, and how public procurement might better reflect the values and needs of the community.

Our panellists are:

• Anne Davies (Chair), Professor of Law and Public Policy, University of Oxford Law Faculty
• Gavin Hayman, Executive Director, Open Contracting Partnership
• Jasmina Haynes, CEO, Integrity Action
• Sarah Stonbely, Senior Research Fellow, Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Columbia University
• Zarino Zappia, Climate Programme Lead, mySociety

This online session is co-hosted by the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Law and the Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) in the Blavatnik School of Government.

Resources

• UK Government – National Procurement Policy Statement Outlines the government’s strategic priorities for public procurement and explains how contracting authorities can support their delivery.
• UK Government – Public Procurement and Transparency Guidance Provides learning materials and guidance for public buyers, including an overview of the transparency measures introduced under the new Procurement Act 2023.
• Open Contracting Partnership – “Challenge” Initiative A collaborative effort to develop public dashboards for open contracting data, improving accessibility and accountability.
• Open Contracting Partnership – "Red Flags in Public Procurement” A practical guide on using data to detect and mitigate risks in public procurement processes.
• Oxford POGO Club – Letter to the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office Read the letter here