Economic Research Competition

About the buyer

The Financial Conduct Authority regulates the UK's financial services industry, and buys as a central government body with its own procurement function. Every tender runs through Atamis, the FCA's eTendering portal, with opportunities also advertised on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder. Larger contracts fall under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 once they pass a set threshold. Both pan-government and FCA-tendered framework agreements offer alternative routes to market. A Supplier Code of Conduct, updated in 2022, covers climate change, resilience and data protection standards for suppliers. An ethical procurement standard applies to purchases wherever possible.

Procurement spend from central entities makes up 66% of overall UK public spend.

Over the past 5 years, most of the Financial Conduct Authority's contract awards have been in IT services, business services and software and information systems.