Overview
This regulation provides that contracting authorities must accept a standard form of self-declaration, the Single Procurement Document (SPD), as preliminary evidence that the supplier: (a) does not meet the exclusion criteria in accordance with regulation 57 PCR 2015 (exclusion grounds); (b) satisfies the selection criteria in accordance with regulation 58 PCR 2015 (selection criteria), and; (c) fulfils the objective rules and criteria for selection in accordance with regulation 65 PCR 2015 (reduction of the number of otherwise qualified candidates to be invited to participate).
The SPD provides preliminary evidence that the supplier meets the relevant selection criteria, without the need for the supplier to submit certificates and supporting documentation during the selection stage.
The SPD must be provided in electronic form.
Objective at this commercial stage
The contracting authority may require the supplier to provide supporting documents during the tender procedure, but may not require the supplier to submit documents which the contracting authority already has access to, or already possesses.
Key considerations at this commercial stage
Contracting authorities should:
- request that suppliers provide supporting documents during the tender procedure only where this is necessary to ensure the proper conduct of the procedure
- consider whether it already has access to the documents which evidence the supplier’s self-certification. For example, these might be accessed via a national database, such as a national procurement register, a virtual company dossier, an electronic document storage system or a prequalification system.
Legal framework
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
