The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011
The DSPCR establishes rules for the procurement of defence and sensitive security equipment and services by contracting authorities in the UK.
- Other DSPCR Chapter 1: overview
- Other DSPCR Chapter 2: scope
- Other DSPCR Chapter 3: financial thresholds
- Other DSPCR Chapter 4: exemptions and exclusions in the DSPCR
- Other DSPCR Chapter 6: classifying contracts
- Other DSPCR Chapter 7: Technical Specifications
- Other DSPCR Chapter 8: procurement procedures
- Other DSPCR Chapter 9: procuring Urgent Capability Requirements (UCRs)
- Other DSPCR Chapter 10: research and development
- Other DSPCR Chapter 11: framework agreements
- Other DSPCR Chapter 12: security of information
- Other DSPCR Chapter 13: security of supply
- Other DSPCR Chapter 14: subcontracting under the DSPCR
- Other DSPCR Chapter 15: supplier selection
- Other DSPCR Chapter 16: conducting the tendering exercise
- Other DSPCR Chapter 17: Standstill Period, Contract Award and Voluntary Transparency Notices
- Other DSPCR Chapter 18: legal review, remedies and ineffectiveness
- Other DSPCR Chapter 19: statistics and reports
The Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) came into effect on 24 February 2025; the DSPCR guidance chapters are therefore no longer being maintained and the policy must not be applied to new procurements from this date. Please see Cabinet Office PA 2023 Guidance for current guidance.
The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011 implemented the European Union (EU) Defence and Security Procurement Directive into United Kingdom (UK) law. They came into force on 21 August 2011.
The DSPCR is ‘retained EU law’ by virtue of section 2 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. This means that the regulations will remain in place and continue to have effect after 31 December 2020 (Transition Period completion day) in the UK.
However, the DSPCR has been amended by two Statutory Instruments to ensure the rules continues to operate effectively after the UK leaves the EU. Those Statutory Instruments are: The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. After 31 December 2020, the DSPCR are national regulations which sit outside the Directive.
Important note, the current Chapter 4 guidance on Exemptions and Exclusions replaces two documents that previously covered the subjects separately. There is therefore no guidance entitled Chapter 5.