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ARTICLE · 16 OCTOBER 2026

Procuring With Strategic Intent And A Focus On National Security

Bevan Brittan LLP
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The UK Government has introduced a new procurement policy note requiring public authorities to prioritize national security considerations when procuring in four critical sectors: energy infrastructure, steel, AI, and shipbuilding. This market-shaping approach mandates collaboration with designated Sector Leads and fundamentally changes how contracting authorities must assess value for money, moving beyond immediate commercial outcomes to consider long-term strategic resilience and supply chain security.

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector
Bethan Lloyd
Bethan Lloyd
Matthew Mo
Matthew Mo

In summer 2026, the Government published a procurement policy note (PPN) and associated guidance which aim to recalibrate the UK’s approach to procurement in relation to energy infrastructure, steel, AI and shipbuilding, four sectors which are considered critical to the UK’s national security interests. Requiring an increased focus on broader strategic and national security implications, rather than just the immediate commercial outcomes of a procurement, the PPN is designed to help protect the UK against global market disruption by safeguarding supply chain resilience and long-term national resilience. This is described as a ‘market shaping’ approach, i.e. making proactive, strategic interventions to manage supply risk and build resilience, incentivise innovation and investment through long-term pipelines and working with industry to build a diverse and effective supply base.

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