54.—(1) This regulation limits the time within which proceedings may be started where the proceedings seek a declaration of ineffectiveness.
(2) Such proceedings must be started—
(a)where paragraph (3) or (5) applies, within 30 days beginning with the relevant date mentioned in that paragraph;
(b)in any event, within six months beginning with the day after the date on which the contract was entered into.
(3) This paragraph applies where a relevant contract award notice has been published in the Official Journal, in which case the relevant date is the day after the date on which the notice was published.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), a contract award notice is relevant if, and only if—
(a)the contract was awarded without the prior publication of a contract notice; and
(b)the contract award notice includes justification of the decision of the contracting authority to award the contract without the prior publication of a contract notice.
(5) This paragraph applies where the contracting authority has informed the economic operator of—
(a)the conclusion of the contract, and
(b)a summary of the relevant reasons,
in which case the relevant date is the day after the date on which the economic operator was informed of the conclusion or, if later, was informed of a summary or the relevant reasons.
(6) In paragraph (5), “the relevant reasons” means the reasons which the economic operator would have been entitled to receive in response to a request under regulation 33(7).
(7) In this regulation, “contract award notice” means a notice in accordance with regulation 32(1).
(8) For the purposes of this regulation, proceedings are to be regarded as started only when the claim form is served, or in Scotland proceedings are served, in compliance with regulation 55(1).