8.Section 2 defines what is meant by a “regulated procurement”. A regulated procurement starts from the point at which a contracting authority seeks offers (when a contract notice is published), includes the selection of economic operators and all other steps in the process continuing through to the award of the contract. It does not include any pre-market engagement or similar activity undertaken by a contracting authority before it seeks offers under a procurement process, nor does it include any activity after the contract is awarded.