Plans are emerging for a new Government Commercial Agency. This would bring together Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and central commercial teams in the Cabinet Office under a single, accountable agency. The new body would have trading-fund status and is proposed to go live on 1 April 2026.
What we know so far
At present, there is limited information available about the Government Commercial Agency. However, its creation aligns with the Government’s wider Plan for Change, which aims to strengthen its commercial function. The agency will aim to bring about increased accountability and better governance, as well as to:
- Simplify access to commercial capability across the public sector through one organisation.
- Aggregate spend and shape markets more consistently, especially where government acts as a single, large customer.
- Improve use of commercial data and systems, aligning with the profession’s push for better analytics and performance.
- Maximise Procurement Act benefits across frameworks and call-offs through consistent standards and guidance.
Current status
None of the proposed changes have yet gone into effect. Indeed, at this time, there has been no formal GOV.UK announcement confirming the creation of the new agency. Until official documents are published, existing buying routes and frameworks continue as normal.
What buyers should do right now
- Carry on using existing CCS frameworks and routes to market. You can track upcoming agreements on CCS to plan pipelines.
- Keep your teams aligned to live Procurement Act guidance and transition materials already published by government.
What suppliers should do right now
- Keep bidding through current CCS frameworks and competitions. Nothing publicly indicates a change to eligibility or processes at this stage.
- If you are preparing to join CCS routes, see our practical guides: How to become a Crown Commercial Service supplier and our Procurement Act 2023 overview and supplier guidance.
What to watch out for
- Official confirmation on GOV.UK setting out scope, governance, and timing for the new agency. If CCS’s trading-fund status changes, expect formal notices or secondary legislation to follow.
- GCF and CCS updates via their organisation pages and news feeds, plus profession-wide commentary on skills, systems, and market engagement.
How Thornton & Lowe can help
With over 15 years of experience helping clients to navigate public sector procurement, Thornton & Lowe is ideally placed to be your partner as the landscape changes. We can support you with expert bid writing and mentoring services, in addition to providing training courses that strengthen your in-house capability.
If you’re a supplier, our framework resources and training can help you to get ready to target CCS routes to market. Our free Tender Pipeline tool can also help you identify live opportunities and organise your pipeline.
Meanwhile, for buyers, we can align your programme plans and pipeline to Procurement Act timelines, and stress-test routes to market to ensure continuity.
Ready to plan for the Government Commercial Agency and the Procurement Act environment? Book a free consultation or start searching tenders now to get ahead.
