Overview
This regulation provides rules on how a contracting authority must publish the procurement documents. The contracting authority must offer unrestricted and full direct access free of charge to the procurement documents, by means of the internet, from the date of the publication of the procurement notices on the UK e-notification service (provided by Find a Tender). The content of the notice must specify the internet address at which the procurement documents are accessible.
Where, in accordance with the exemptions under regulation 22(3) PCR 2015 (rules applicable to communication), the contracting authority does not offer access via the internet to the procurement documents, the contracting authority may indicate in the notice that the procurement documents concerned will be transmitted by other means.
Additionally, where the contracting authority intends to impose requirements aimed at protecting the confidential nature of the relevant information (as per regulation 21 PCR 2015 (Confidentiality)), it must indicate in the notice which measures are required and how access can be obtained.
In both of the situations above, the time limit for the submission of tenders must be extended by five days (except in the cases of duly substantiated urgency).
If requested in good time, contracting authorities must provide to all tenderers any additional information relating to the specifications and / or any supporting documents, no later than six days before the deadline for the receipt of tenders. This may be reduced to four days in the case of an accelerated procedure.