Reg. 110 (PCR 2015)

Publication of contract opportunities on Contracts Finder

In: Procure > Finalise and publish procurement pack

Overview

This regulation provides that a contracting authority, when advertising a below-threshold contract award opportunity (i.e. by putting the opportunity in the public domain or bringing it to the attention of suppliers generally or a broad, potentially open-ended subset of suppliers), it must also publish information about the opportunity on Contracts Finder within 24 hours of advertisement.

Regulation 110 also states that contracting authorities may publish relevant information on Contracts Finder, even where the contract award opportunity has not been advertised in any other way.

The relevant information for publication under Regulation 110 must at least cover:

  • the timeframe for suppliers to respond to the opportunity (which should allow suppliers a sufficient, but not disproportionate, period of time to respond)
  • how and to whom suppliers should respond, and
  • any other requirements for participating in the procurement.

Regulation 110 also states that contracting authorities should ensure that relevant contract documents (as defined by this regulation) are made available to interested suppliers.

Objective at this commercial stage

If the below-threshold procurement opportunity is advertised to suppliers, then the information set out in this regulation (i.e. regulation 110) must also be published on Contracts Finder. Where the procurement is not advertised to suppliers, the contracting authority may nevertheless choose to publish the information on Contracts Finder voluntarily.

Key considerations at this commercial stage

Contracting authorities should:

  • consider the information that should be published on Contracts Finder
  • ensure that the information published on Contracts Finder includes the information required under this regulation (i.e. regulation 110)
  • ensure that any relevant contract documents (as defined by this regulation) are shared with suppliers, unless there is a relevant reason for not doing so.

See also in the Procurement Act 2023:

  • Section 87: Regulated below-threshold contracts: notices

Additional support and guidance

Make sure you:

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