upon a range of factors, including the likely number of responses, the complexity of the procurement etc., the Procurement Office will recommend which procurement procedure should be used for the competition. There are six main procedures available under the new Procurement Regulations: Open; Restricted; Negotiated; Competitive Dialogue; Competitive procedure with negotiation; and Innovation partnership. Each of the above procedures must adhere to certain timescales and other specific procedural rules which must be complied with (unless the contract is somehow exempt) including: Contracts must be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU); Certain timescales for tendering of contracts must be followed; Contracts must be awarded on the basis of economically advantageous ‘most tender’; There are specific rules on what selection and award criteria are permissible; Bidders must be provided with detailed feedback; and There must be a standstill period of a minimum of 10 days after a preferred bidder has been identified but before a contract has been awarded. 6.9 Exemptions from Procurement Regulations Certain types of contracts known as B Services’ were exempt under the previous ‘Part Procurement Regulations. The distinction between Part A and Part B Services has been abolished under the 2015 Regulations and replaced with a more limited set of specialist services which will be subject to what is commonly referred to as the touch regime”. “light This will apply to services such as health and social services but also includes a list of other services contained in Schedule 3 to the Regulations (e.g. legal services). These services benefit from a higher threshold of and will be subject to limited procedural €750,000 requirements, notably the publication of contract and contract award notices. Although procurement of these contracts is exempt from the full application of the Procurement Regulations, fundamental EU Treaty principles of equal treatment and transparency must still be adhered to. Further advice on the application of these principles to the procurement of contracts which are exempt from the full application of the Procurement Regulations can be obtained from the Procurement Office. 7. Competition At the heart of Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy is the achievement of best value for money through adherence to the 12 guiding principles of procurement. Included in these guiding principles is the principle of competitive supply which states that procurement should
upon a range of factors, including the likely number of responses, the complexity of the procurement etc., the Procurement Office will recommend which procurement procedure should be used for the competition. There are six main procedures available under the new Procurement Regulations: Open; Restricted; Negotiated; Competitive Dialogue; Competitive procedure with negotiation; and Innovation partnership. Each of the above procedures must adhere to certain timescales and other specific procedural rules which must be complied with (unless the contract is somehow exempt) including: Contracts must be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU); Certain timescales for tendering of contracts must be followed; Contracts must be awarded on the basis of ‘most economically advantageous tender’; There are specific rules on what selection and award criteria are permissible; Bidders must be provided with detailed feedback; and There must be a standstill period of a minimum of 10 days after a preferred bidder has been identified but before a contract has been awarded. 6.9 Exemptions from Procurement Regulations Certain types of contracts known as ‘Part B Services’ were exempt under the previous Procurement Regulations. The distinction between Part A and Part B Services has been abolished under the 2015 Regulations and replaced with a more limited set of specialist services which will be subject to what is commonly referred to as the “light touch regime”. This will apply to services such as health and social services but also includes a list of other services contained in Schedule 3 to the Regulations (e.g. legal services). These services benefit from a higher threshold of €750,000 and will be subject to limited procedural requirements, notably the publication of contract and contract award notices. Although procurement of these contracts is exempt from the full application of the Procurement Regulations, fundamental EU Treaty principles of equal treatment and transparency must still be adhered to. Further advice on the application of these principles to the procurement of contracts which are exempt from the full application of the Procurement Regulations can be obtained from the Procurement Office. 7. Competition At the heart of Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy is the achievement of best value for money through adherence to the 12 guiding principles of procurement. Included in these guiding principles is the principle of competitive supply which states that procurement should