Reg. 54 (PCR 2015)

Invitations to candidates

In: Procure > Finalise and publish procurement pack

Overview

This regulation requires contracting authorities to simultaneously invite selected candidates to submit tenders in restricted procedures, innovation partnerships, and competitive procedures with negotiation, or, in the case of a competitive dialogue, to take part in the dialogue.

The invitations must be in writing and must reference how the procurement documents can be accessed, as well as provide the necessary procurement documents if they have not been made directly available for free due to certain restrictions. In respect of a competitive dialogue, the date and address set for the start of the consultation must also be provided.

For contracts awarded through a competitive dialogue procedure or an innovation partnership, information regarding the deadline for tender submissions and language requirements should only be provided in the invitation to submit a tender.

Objective at this commercial stage

Selected candidates must be invited to submit tenders simultaneously or, in the case of a competitive dialogue, to take part in the dialogue.

Key considerations at this commercial stage

Contracting authorities must:

  • reference in the invitation how the relevant procurement documents can be accessed, the deadline for tender submissions, how tenders should be submitted, language requirements, relative weighting of award criteria and, where relevant, additional documents for submission.

There is no direct equivalent section in the Procurement Act 2023

Additional support and guidance

Make sure you:

  • read the regulation
  • seek legal and commercial advice in the context of specific procurements