Despite section 8, a contracting authority may award a contract for a health or social care service without seeking offers in relation to the proposed contract.

In relation to a regulated procurement where, by virtue of subsection (1), a contracting authority does not seek offers, section 23(1) does not apply.

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision specifying what is a health or social care service for the purposes of subsection (1) and section 13(1).