The Public Contracts Regulations 2015

General time limits for starting proceedings

92.—(1) This regulation limits the time within which proceedings may be started where the proceedings do not seek a declaration of ineffectiveness.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (5), such proceedings must be started within 30 days beginning with the date when the economic operator first knew or ought to have known that grounds for starting the proceedings had arisen.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not require proceedings to be started before the end of any of the following periods:—

(a) where the proceedings relate to a decision which is sent to the economic operator by facsimile or electronic means, 10 days beginning with—

(i) the day after the date on which the decision is sent, if the decision is accompanied by a summary of the reasons for the decision;

(ii) if the decision is not so accompanied, the day after the date on which the economic operator is informed of a summary of those reasons;

(b) where the proceedings relate to a decision which is sent to the economic operator by other means, whichever of the following periods ends first:—

(i) 15 days beginning with the day after the date on which the decision is sent, if the decision is accompanied by a summary of the reasons for the decision;

(ii) 10 days beginning with—

(aa) the day after the date on which the decision is received, if the decision is accompanied by a summary of the reasons for the decision; or

(bb) if the decision is not so accompanied, the day after the date on which the economic operator is informed of a summary of those reasons;

(c) where sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply but the decision is published, 10 days beginning with the day on which the decision is published.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), the Court may extend the time limits imposed by this regulation (but not any of the limits imposed by regulation 93) where the Court considers that there is a good reason for doing so.

(5) The Court must not exercise its power under paragraph (4) so as to permit proceedings to be started more than 3 months after the date when the economic operator first knew or ought to have known that grounds for starting the proceedings had arisen.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, proceedings are to be regarded as started when the claim form is issued.