Tag: The Public Contracts Regulations 2015

New standard forms for OJEU notices. Simplification or burden?

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The EU published the new standard forms for OJEU notices on 12th November 2015. In England and Wales, where The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 came into force in February 2015, the new standard forms for public sector came into force on 3rd of December 2015. It will be some time before all contracting authorities are using the new forms but a few are trickling in and you might have seen some of these on Tenders Direct already.

The new forms reflect the simplified rules and procedures of the new EU Directives. In this blog I will highlight some of the biggest changes we will see with the new forms and flag up some of the pros and cons they present to both buyers and suppliers.

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Maintained Schools and Academies – Exemptions from the Public Contracts Regulations 2015

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One of the main drivers of change in the Public Contracts Regulations of 2015 was to create a more open playing field for SMEs. This was brought about through a number of initiatives including the advertising of opportunities on Contracts Finder and improved payment terms for invoices.

It seems strange then that a part of the public sector should be made exempt from these requirements, namely maintained schools and academies especially considering that they are prime customers for small local businesses.

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Self reporting requirements entering into force from 1st September 2015

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In April I posted a blog about the ban on PQQs and restrictions that have been put in place for the use of supplier questionnaires. This made it clear that when a contracting authority is deviating from the rules and the guidance issued, they would be expected to self report to the Crown Commercial Service.

These self reporting requirements are now coming into force on 1st of September 2015, so as a reminder this blog will highlight what are considered to be deviations and how you can report this.

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SME access by splitting contracts into lots

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In 2014 the European Union adopted new procurement Directives for Public sector, Utility sector and Concessions contracts.  With the reform of the Directives they hope to achieve better access to public contracts for SMEs. One of the measures set into place to do this is the rule encouraging contracting authorities to split contracts into lots. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 transposed the 2014 Public Sector Directive in February 2015, and with it the “Split your lots” rule. With this blog I hope to make it a bit more clear what a contracting authority is required to do.

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