PART 1Key definitions
9Light touch contracts
(1)
In this Act, “light touch contract” means a contract wholly or mainly for the supply of services of a kind specified in regulations under subsection (2).
(2)
An appropriate authority may by regulations specify services for the purposes of the definition in subsection (1).
(3)
But an appropriate authority may specify services only if, having had regard to the nature of those services, the authority considers that it is appropriate for the award of public contracts for their supply to be exempted from the provisions of this Act that do not apply to light touch contracts.
(4)
In having regard to the nature of services for that purpose, the appropriate authority must, in particular, consider the extent to which—
(a)
suppliers from outside the United Kingdom are likely to want to compete for contracts for the supply of the services;
(b)
the services are supplied for the benefit of individuals (for example, health or social care services) or the community generally;
(c)
proximity between the supplier and the recipient of the services is necessary or expedient for the effective and efficient supply of the services.
(5)
In this Act, a reference to a light touch contract includes a reference to a framework for the future award of contracts wholly or mainly for the supply of services of a kind specified in regulations under subsection (2).