Reg. 87 (PCR 2015)
Standstill period
In: Procure > Contract award and implementation
Overview
This regulation requires a contracting authority to observe a standstill period before entering into a contract or concluding a framework agreement. The length of the standstill period varies depending on how the relevant notices are sent to suppliers. If notices are sent by fax or electronic means, the standstill period ends at midnight on the tenth day after the last notice is sent to a candidate or tenderer, eligible to receive a notice. If the notice is sent by other means, the standstill period may be as long as 15 days.
Objective at this commercial stage
Contracting authorities cannot enter into a public contract before the standstill period has elapsed. Depending on how the relevant notices are sent, the standstill period will elapse either at the end of the tenth day after the last notice is sent (if notices are sent by fax or electronic means) or at the end of the fifteenth day after the date on which the last notice is sent.
Key considerations at this commercial stage
Contracting authorities should:
- observe, in full, the relevant standstill period before taking steps to enter into the contract or conclude the framework agreement
- ensure the correct length of standstill period is observed, depending on whether the notices are sent electronically or by other means.
Legal framework
See also in the Procurement Act 2023:
- Section 51: Standstill periods on the award of contracts
Additional support and guidance
Make sure you:
- read the regulation
- seek legal and commercial advice in the context of specific procurements
