What does light touch regime mean?

The new light-touch regime (LTR) is a specific set of rules for certain service contracts that tend to be of lower interest to cross-border competition. Those service contracts include certain social, health and education services, defined by Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes.

What is a VEAT notice?

A VEAT (Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice) can be published when a contracting authority has chosen a particular route to market. This route falls under the label of a closed competition tender. They can then, voluntarily, choose to publish a VEAT to allow the market to challenge the decision.

What is pcr2015?

The February 2015 launch of the new Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). has changed public sector procurement in the UK. The intention is to remove some of the bureaucracy and barriers which make it difficult for businesses, in particular smaller firms, to access public sector contracts.

What does VEAT mean in procurement?

Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency notice
The abbreviation stands for Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency notice and it is covered by the Remedies Directive. It is a means of advertising the intention to let a contract without opening it up to formal competition.

Does OJEU apply to private sector?

Who does OJEU apply to? The EU’s procurement legislation applies to all public-sector bodies in all EU countries. Any contracts awarded by these bodies that will exceed certain thresholds must follow the OJEU procedures. OJEU also applies to some spending by private companies, if it is subsidised by public funds.

Does OJEU threshold include VAT?

Details of the thresholds, applying from 1st January 2020 are given below. Thresholds are net of VAT.

When should a contract award notice be published?

When you award a contract or conclude a framework agreement, you must publish details of the award or conclusion on the Find a Tender service within 48 days of the award or conclusion in the form of the Contract Award Notice.

Can a standstill period start on a weekend?

The end of a standstill period must not fall on a public holiday or at the weekend.

What is light touch regime (LTR)?

In this article we look at the so-called Light Touch Regime, or LTR; the procurement rules applicable to the procurement of health, social and other services listed at Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

How will the LTR affect the Public Procurement Regime?

Overall, the introduction of the LTR should lead to a significant reduction in the number of procurement exercises under the public procurement regime, resulting in significant savings of time and cost when letting service contracts. Got a question? Which office is most convenient?

What are the rules of Procedure governing the LTR?

The rules of procedure governing the LTR are set out in Regulations 74 to 76, Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (“PCR”). However, other parts of the PCR are also relevant, and we explore those below.

What are the contract award criteria for LTR services?

No rules on contract award criteria are laid down for LTR services so the council is free to decide its own approach which could be the best price-quality ratio (in a modified form). Note that the ‘ Lord Young’ rules also apply to LTR services (but those rules do not apply to Wales).