The UK Government has announced plans to create a new e-procurement system to replace the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in the event that the ongoing Brexit negotiations do not produce an agreement.
While it is still unclear whether or not a deal will be reached, the new guidance outlines a contingency plan intended to guarantee continuity in UK public contracting.
What does this mean for public procurement in the UK?
The UK is due to formally leave the EU on 29th March 2019. Until that date, tenders above the relevant threshold must still be published in the OJEU as normal. Subject to the nature of the UK’s continuing relationship with the EU, it is possible that this will continue to be the case.
If there is no agreement, a new system for publishing above-threshold notices will be implemented. Aside from this, however, all the national procurement portals of the constituent parts of the UK – Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales, and eTendersNI – will remain in place.
What do you think?
As Brexit approaches we have been receiving more and more queries from our subscribers – whether they be supportive of exiting the EU or not – about the future of public procurement in the UK. Now that the endgame is beginning to take shape, we’d be interested to know your views. When it comes to public procurement, are you preparing for all eventualities? What else would you like to see clarified before March 2019?
Ask us a question or let us know what you think in the comments below.
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