Overview
This PPN provides guidance to public bodies in relation to the requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) to publish information about opportunities and awards, over certain value thresholds on Contracts Finder. All contract value limits are to be calculated inclusive of VAT.
The PCR 2015 requires the majority of above-threshold contract opportunities to be advertised across the UK on Find a Tender (FTS), the UK’s e-notification service, and also on Contracts Finder. Where the PCR 2015 requires a notice to be published on the UK e-notification service, it must be published on FTS before being published on Contracts Finder or anywhere else.
The PPNs associated "Guidance on transparency requirements for publishing on Contracts Finder" (the ‘guidance’) consists of two parts and applies to the organisations detailed below (collectively referred to as ‘in-scope organisations’).
Part 1 of the guidance sets out requirements to publish certain information on Contracts Finder; and applies to all contracting authorities across the public sector other than where an exemption applies as set out in section 6 of Part 1 of the guidance.
In respect of below-threshold procurements, the Part 1 publication requirements only apply to in-scope organisations that are also (as set out in section 3 of Part 1):
a. central government authorities, where the contract value is at least £12,000 (inc VAT), and
b. sub-central contracting authorities, NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts, where the contract value is at least £30,000 (inc of VAT).
Part 2 of the guidance places requirements to publish the tender and contract documents on Contracts Finder, with the appropriate notice. Part 2 applies to all central government authorities other than where an exemption applies as set out in section 5 of Part 2 of the guidance.