Prime Contractor

The prime contracts directly with the public buyer and carries responsibility for delivery of everything in scope. Where parts are subcontracted, the prime remains accountable to the buyer for that work — the buyer's relationship is with the prime alone.

For smaller suppliers this is a practical route into contracts they could not hold directly. Bonding, insurance, clearance and past-performance requirements sit with the prime, while the specialist scope can still be delivered by a subcontractor who meets none of those thresholds independently.