32.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (10), a contracting authority must by notice in writing as soon as possible after the decision has been made, inform all tenderers and all candidates concerned (if any) of its decision to—
(a)award the contract; or
(b)conclude the framework agreement.
(2) The notice referred to in paragraph (1) must include—
(a)the criteria for the award of the contract;
(b)where practicable, the score obtained by—
(i)the economic operator which is to receive the notice; and
(ii)the economic operator—
(aa)to be awarded the contract; or
(bb)to become a party to the framework agreement;
(c)the name of the economic operator—
(i)to be awarded the contract; or
(ii)to become a party to the framework agreement;
(d)in the case of an unsuccessful economic operator, a summary of the reasons why the economic operator was unsuccessful;
(e)in the case of an unsuccessful tenderer, the characteristics and relative advantages of the successful tender; and
(f)a precise statement of the effect of paragraph (3) on the economic operator which is to receive the notice.
(3) A contracting authority must allow a period of at least the relevant standstill period to elapse between the date of dispatch of the notice referred to in paragraph (1) and the date on which that contracting authority enters into the contract or concludes the framework agreement.
(4) Paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply where—
(a)the only tenderer is the economic operator to be awarded the contract or to become a party to the framework agreement, and there are no candidates concerned; or
(b)the contract is a contract based on a framework agreement or a contract awarded under a dynamic purchasing system.
(5) Without prejudice to paragraph (4), paragraph (3) does not apply where—
(a)the contract or framework agreement is exempt from the requirement for prior publication of a contract notice; or
(b)there are no tenderers concerned or candidates concerned.
(6) Subject to paragraph (10), a contracting authority must within 15 days of the date on which it receives a request in writing from any economic operator which was unsuccessful—
(a)inform that economic operator of the reasons why it was unsuccessful; and
(b)in the case of an unsuccessful tenderer, other than a tenderer which has been informed by notice under paragraph (1), inform that economic operator of the characteristics and relative advantages of the successful tender and the name of—
(i)the economic operator to be awarded the contract;
(ii)the parties to the framework agreement; or
(iii)the economic operators admitted to the dynamic purchasing system.
(7) The reasons referred to in paragraphs (2)(d) and (6)(a) include any reason for the contracting authority’s decision that the economic operator did not meet the technical specifications or their equivalent—
(a)as specified in regulation 9(6); or
(b)in terms of the performance or functional requirements referred to in regulation 9(7).
(8) Subject to paragraph (10), a contracting authority must as soon as possible after the decision has been made, inform all candidates and tenderers of its decision to abandon or to recommence a contract award procedure in respect of which a contract notice has been published, in relation to—
(a)the award of a contract;
(b)the conclusion of a framework agreement; or
(c)the establishment of a dynamic purchasing system.
(9) A contracting authority which informs an economic operator of its decision in accordance with paragraph (8) must include the reasons for the decision and, if so requested by the economic operator, must provide the decision and reasons in writing.
(10) A contracting authority may withhold any information to be provided in accordance with paragraph (1), (6) or (8) where the disclosure of such information—
(a)would impede law enforcement;
(b)would otherwise be contrary to the public interest;
(c)would prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of any economic operator; or
(d)might prejudice fair competition between economic operators.
(11) A contracting authority must prepare a record in relation to each public contract awarded by it, framework agreement concluded by it or dynamic purchasing system established by it, specifying—
(a)the name and address of the contracting authority;
(b)the value of the consideration to be given under the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system;
(c)the type of goods to be purchased or hired, the work or works to be carried out or, as the case may be, the services to be provided;
(d)where offers were evaluated in accordance with regulation 30, the names of the economic operators which submitted those offers and where the contracting authority has used the restricted procedure or negotiated procedure, the reasons why those economic operators were selected;
(e)the name of any economic operator—
(i)to which the contract was awarded;
(ii)with which the framework agreement was concluded; or
(iii)which was admitted to the dynamic purchasing system;
(f)the reasons for having—
(i)awarded the contract to, or concluded the framework agreement with, the economic operator referred to in sub-paragraph (e); or
(ii)admitted that economic operator to the dynamic purchasing system;
(g)the names of the economic operators which were unsuccessful and the reasons why they were unsuccessful;
(h)if known to the contracting authority, the parts of the contract or framework agreement that the economic operator to which the contract has been awarded or with which the framework agreement has been concluded, intends to sub contract to another economic operator;
(i)in the case of a contracting authority which used the negotiated procedure, which of the circumstances specified in regulation 13 or 14 constituted grounds for using that procedure;
(j)in the case of a contracting authority which used the competitive dialogue procedure, details of the circumstances which constituted grounds for using that procedure in accordance with regulation 18(2); and
(k)where a contracting authority has abandoned a contract award procedure, the conclusion of a framework agreement or the establishment of a dynamic purchasing system, the reasons why the contracting authority has decided not to award the contract, to conclude the framework agreement or to establish the dynamic purchasing system as the case may be.
(12) A contracting authority must keep appropriate information to document the progress of contract award procedures conducted by electronic means.
(13) If the Commission requests a report containing the information specified in paragraph (11), the contracting authority must send a written report containing that information, or the main features of it, to the Scottish Ministers for onward transmission to the Commission.