Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that requirements relating to (a) previous defence contract experience, (b) financial standing and (c) accreditation are proportionate for small and medium-sized enterprises bidding for contracts.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to reducing unnecessary barriers that can prevent small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from participating in Defence procurements. The Defence Office for Small Business Growth is working across Defence to improve SME access to opportunities and remove unnecessarily complex processes.

The Procurement Act 2023 and MOD Supplier Selection policy require all supplier selection requirements, including experience, financial standing and accreditation, to be proportionate to the contract being procured. Commercial teams must avoid unnecessarily burdensome requirements, consider alternative evidence of capability and financial resilience, and ensure SMEs and new entrants are not excluded unless such requirements are genuinely necessary to deliver the contract.