This idea was created by the Scrutinise team as a policy development prompt. It represents a live policy debate with substantial public evidence. Any registered user can contribute to it, and ownership can be transferred to any organisation or individual who wishes to champion it.
Machine-Readable Government Contract Data: Completing the Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 created a transparency framework for government contracts but the implementation portal publishes data in formats that cannot be systematically analysed. This proposal mandates machine-readable open data formats, transforming the transparency framework from compliance exercise to accountability tool.
Summary
The Procurement Act 2023 created a transparency framework for government contracts but the implementation portal publishes data in formats that cannot be systematically analysed. This proposal mandates machine-readable open data formats, transforming the transparency framework from compliance exercise to accountability tool.
Challenge (summary)
The government spends approximately £300 billion per year through procurement but contract data is published in PDF or non-standardised formats that prevent systematic analysis of value for money, supplier concentration, or conflicts of interest.
Approach (summary)
Require all government contracts above £10,000 to be published in OCDS (Open Contracting Data Standard) format on a single searchable API, enabling civil society, journalists, and researchers to analyse government spending systematically.
First step (summary)
Amend the Procurement Act 2023 secondary legislation to mandate OCDS compliance within 18 months, with a Cabinet Office-run central API replacing the current Contracts Finder portal.
Stage
DevelopIdea Type
Legislation
Government Area
Cabinet Office
Created
27 Mar 2026
Owner
Scrutinise Editorial