UK Statutory Instrument
2015
United Kingdom
Public Contracts Regulations 2015
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
4 compliance obligations
Penalty landscape
1 of 4 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 3 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Plus 4 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — GENERAL
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 2 — RULES IMPLEMENTING THE PUBLIC CONTRACTS DIRECTIVE
Browse 85 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Methods for calculating the estimated value of procurement
Contracts in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors
Specific exclusions in the field of electronic communications
Public contracts awarded, and design contests organised, pursuant to international rules
Specific exclusions for service contracts
Service contracts awarded on the basis of an exclusive right
Public contracts between entities within the public sector
Contracts subsidised by contracting authorities
Research and development services
Defence and security
Mixed procurement involving defence or security aspects
Public contracts and design contests involving defence or security aspects which are awarded or organised pursuant to international rules
Principles of procurement
Economic operators
Reserved contracts
Confidentiality
Rules applicable to communication
Nomenclatures
Conflicts of interest
Conditions relating to international agreements by which the EU is bound, other than the GPA
Choice of procedures
Open procedure
Restricted procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
Competitive dialogue
Innovation partnership
Use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication
Framework agreements
Dynamic purchasing systems
Electronic auctions
Electronic catalogues
Centralised purchasing activities and central purchasing bodies
Occasional joint procurement
Procurement involving contracting authorities from other member States
Preliminary market consultations
Prior involvement of candidates or tenderers
Technical specifications
Labels
Test reports, certificates and other means of proof
Variants
Division of contracts into lots
Setting time limits
Prior information notices
Contract notices
Contract award notices
Publication on the UK e-notification service
Publication otherwise than on the UK e-notification service
Electronic availability of procurement documents
Invitations to candidates
Informing candidates and tenderers
General principles in awarding contracts etc
Exclusion grounds
Selection criteria
... Single Procurement Document
Means of proof
Recourse to e-Certis
Quality assurance standards and environmental management standards
Reliance on the capacities of other entities
Recognition of official lists of approved economic operators and certification by certification bodies
Reduction of the number of otherwise qualified candidates to be invited to participate
Reduction of the number of tenders and solutions
Contract award criteria
Life-cycle costing
Abnormally low tenders
Conditions for performance of contracts
Subcontracting
Modification of contracts during their term
Termination of contracts
Award of contracts for social and other specific services
Publication of notices
Principles of awarding contracts
Reserved contracts for certain services
Scope of Section 8
Notices
Rules on the organisation of design contests and the selection of participants
Composition of the jury
Decisions of the jury
Retention of contract copies
Reporting and documentation requirements
Conditions relating to international agreements by which the United Kingdom is bound, other than the GPA
Conditions relating to the GPA
Contracts and framework agreements for health care services
General provisions about regulations under this Part
Powers to amend regulation 22
Review and amendment of certain thresholds
Part 3 — REMEDIES
Duty owed to economic operators from the United Kingdom and Gibraltar
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public authorities must treat UK and Gibraltar bidders fairly Crown / Minister / Government department
Duty owed to economic operators from countries with whom the EU has an international agreement, other than the GPA
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Provide equal treatment to bidders from countries with EU trade agreements Crown / Minister / Government department
Duty owed to economic operators from countries with whom the United Kingdom has an international agreement, other than the GPA
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public bodies must treat bidders from certain international partners fairly Crown / Minister / Government department
Duty owed to economic operators from GPA parties
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Contracting authorities must treat GPA country businesses fairly Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 18 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Scope of Chapter 5
Notices of decisions to award a contract or conclude a framework agreement
Standstill period
Interpretation of Chapter 6
Enforcement of duties through the Court
General time limits for starting proceedings
Special time limits for seeking a declaration of ineffectiveness
Starting proceedings
Contract-making suspended by challenge to award decision
Interim orders
Remedies where the contract has not been entered into
Remedies where the contract has been entered into
Grounds for ineffectiveness
General interest grounds for not making a declaration of ineffectiveness
The consequences of ineffectiveness
Penalties in addition to, or instead of, ineffectiveness
Ineffectiveness etc. in relation to specific contracts based on a framework agreement
Injunctions against the Crown
Part 4 — MISCELLANEOUS OBLIGATIONS
Browse 12 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Scope of Chapter 7
Publication of information on Contracts Finder where contract notices are used
Qualitative selection
Publication of information on Contracts Finder about contracts awarded
Scope of Chapter 8
Publication of contract opportunities on Contracts Finder
Assessing suitability etc
Publication of information on Contracts Finder about contracts awarded
Payment of undisputed invoices within 30 days by contracting authorities, contractors and subcontractors
General provisions applicable to Part 4
Application of regulation 113A to sub-central contracting authorities
Contractual provisions relating to the processing of electronic invoices
Part 5 — REVOCATIONS, CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS, SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation of Part 6
Revocation and amendments
General saving in respect of certain concession contracts
General transitional provision and saving where procurement procedure commenced before 26th February 2015
Transitional provision and saving where utilities procurement procedure commenced before 26th February 2015
Temporary exemption and saving for certain NHS procurements
Transitory provision prior to full commencement of regulation 22(1) to (7)
Complying with regulation 113 before 1st April 2016
Schedules
Browse 6 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTING WORKS
SOCIAL AND OTHER SPECIFIC SERVICES
LIST OF PRODUCTS RELEVANT TO THRESHOLDS
PROFESSIONAL AND TRADE REGISTERS ETC.
PARTIES TO THE GPA
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Information Commissioner's Office
Data protection, freedom of information, privacy and electronic communications regulation. Enforces UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Issues fines for breaches. …
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Regulators
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