Katherine Calder

This Practice Note looks at initiatives intended to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to bid for public contracts without infringing the public procurement rules. Focusing on procurement under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, it summarises the gradual reforms introduced with the aim of improving SME access to public contracts and identifies some of the best practice guidance for contracting authorities.

This Practice Note considers the use of e-Procurement for sourcing in the public sector, ie the process leading to the award of a public contract or framework agreement (often referred to as ‘e-Sourcing’). This includes the use of electronic means, e-Auctions, Dynamic Purchasing Systems and wider developments for public procurement in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

This Practice Note provides an overview of the public procurement regime for concession contracts under the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016. It considers the definition of a concession contract, the types of concession contract caught by the regime, specific situations and exclusions and the key procedural requirements.

This Practice Note provides an overview of the public procurement regime for public contracts under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. It considers the definition of a contracting authority, what constitutes a body governed by public law, the types of contract caught, the most commonly used public procurement procedures and the key procedural requirements. It also highlights guidance available from the government and other relevant bodies.

This Practice Note is an introduction to the new Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023), which received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023 and is expected to come into force in October 2024. It provides an overview of the new procedures for awarding contracts covered by PA 2023, as well as associated provisions relating to transparency, exclusions, debarment and remedies.

This Practice Note provides an overview of the public procurement regime for utilities contracts under the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016. It considers the types of utilities and activities caught by the regime, exclusions and the key procedural requirements.

This Practice Note considers the pre-qualification and selection process for suppliers seeking to deliver public contracts tendered by contracting authorities under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. It includes key considerations relating to exclusion and selection, standard forms including the government standard Selection Questionnaire (SQ) and the Single Procurement Document (SPD).

This Practice Note explains the rules governing the use of prior information notices (PINs) and contract notices in public procurement exercises subject to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. It considers the use of PINs, the information required for publication in the Find a Tender Service (FTS) and details of how to complete a procurement contract notice, including the standard forms.

This Practice Note sets out the key issues for consideration when a contracting authority is considering the use of the competitive dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Practice Note is also of use to bidders so that they can understand how procurements are run.

This Practice Note sets out the key issues for consideration when a contracting authority is considering the use of the competitive procedure with negotiation under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Practice Note is also of use to bidders so that they can understand how such procurements are run.

This Practice Note sets out the key issues for consideration when a contracting authority is considering the use of the innovation partnership procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Practice Note is also of use to bidders so that they can understand how procurements are run.

This Practice Note provides an overview for contracting authorities of key considerations and issues associated with public procurement under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and other relevant laws and guidance. The Practice Note is also of use to bidders for public contracts so that they can understand how public procurement exercises are run.

This Practice Note sets out the key issues for consideration when a contracting authority is considering the use of the open procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Practice Note is also of use to bidders so that they can understand how procurements are run.

This Practice Note sets out the key issues for consideration when a contracting authority is considering the use of the restricted procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Practice Note is also of use to bidders so that they can understand how procurements are run.

This Practice Note discusses the procurement implications in relation to arm’s length and shared services models used for public services. Alternative service delivery models are heavily used and developed in the public sector. This Practice Note focuses on the public procurement rules under regulation 12 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as derived from the leading cases of Teckal and Hamburg. It focuses on breaking down the fundamental elements of the rules and case law on the in-house and co-operation exemptions.