2016 No. 274

Public Procurement, England And Wales

Public Procurement, Northern Ireland

The Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (revoked)
Made
11th March 2016
Laid before Parliament
17th March 2016
Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) to (4)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 1

GENERAL
CHAPTER 1

CITATION, COMMENCEMENT, EXTENT, DEFINITIONS AND SUBJECT-MATTER

Citation, commencement and extent
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Definitions
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Subject-matter and scope
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracting authorities
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Utilities
5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mixed procurement covering the same activity
6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Procurement covering several activities
7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 2

ACTIVITIES

Common Provisions
8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gas and heat
9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Electricity
10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Water
11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Transport services
12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ports and airports
13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Postal services
14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extraction of oil and gas and exploration for, or extraction of, coal or other solid fuels
15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 3

MATERIAL SCOPE
SECTION 1

Thresholds

Threshold amounts
16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Review and amendment of certain thresholds
16A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Methods for calculating the estimated value of the procurement
17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 2

Excluded contracts and design contests; special provisions for procurement involving defence and security aspects
SUB-SECTION 1

Exclusions applicable to all utilities and special exclusions for the water and energy sectors

Contracts awarded for the purpose of resale or lease to third parties
18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracts and design contests awarded or organised for purposes other than the pursuit of a covered activity or for the pursuit of such an activity outside the United Kingdom
19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracts awarded and design contests organised pursuant to international rules
20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Specific exclusions for service contracts
21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Service contracts awarded on the basis of an exclusive right
22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracts awarded by certain utilities for the purchase of water and for the supply of energy or of fuels for the production of energy
23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUB-SECTION 2

Procurement involving defence and security aspects

Defence and security
24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mixed procurement covering the same activity and involving defence or security aspects
25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Procurement covering several activities and involving defence or security aspects
26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracts and design contests involving defence or security aspects which are awarded or organised pursuant to international rules
27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUB-SECTION 3

Special relations (cooperation, affiliated undertakings and joint ventures)

Contracts between contracting authorities
28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracts awarded to an affiliated undertaking
29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracts awarded to a joint venture or to a utility forming part of a joint venture
30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notification of information
31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUB-SECTION 4

Specific situations

Research and development services
32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracts subject to special arrangements
33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUB-SECTION 5

Activities directly exposed to competition and related procedural provisions

Activities directly exposed to competition
34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Procedure for establishing whether regulation 34(2)(b) is applicable
35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 4

General Principles

Principles of procurement
36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Economic operators
37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reserved contracts
38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Confidentiality
39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rules applicable to communication
40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Powers to amend regulation 40
40A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nomenclatures
41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conflicts of interest
42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 2

RULES APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS
CHAPTER 1

Procedures

Conditions relating to international agreements by which the EU is bound, other than the GPA
43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conditions relating to the GPA
43A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conditions relating to international agreements by which the United Kingdom is bound, other than the GPA
43B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Choice of Procedures
44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Open Procedure
45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Restricted Procedure
46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Negotiated Procedure with prior call for competition
47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Competitive dialogue
48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Innovation partnership
49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Use of the negotiated procedure without prior call for competition
50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 2

Techniques and instruments for electronic and aggregated procurement

Framework agreements
51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dynamic purchasing systems
52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Electronic auctions
53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Electronic catalogues
54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Centralised purchasing activities and central purchasing bodies
55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Occasional joint procurement
56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Procurement involving utilities from other member States
57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 3

Conduct of the procedure
SECTION 1

Preparation

Preliminary market consultations
58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Prior involvement of candidates or tenderers
59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Technical specifications
60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Labels
61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Test reports, certification and other means of proof
62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Communication of technical specifications
63. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Variants
64. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Division of contracts into lots
65. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Setting time limits
66. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 2

Publication and transparency

Periodic indicative notices
67. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notices on the existence of a qualification system
68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contract notices
69. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contract award notices
70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Publication on the UK e-notification service
71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Publication otherwise than on the UK e-notification service
72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Electronic availability of procurement documents
73. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Invitations to candidates
74. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Informing applicants for qualification, candidates and tenderers
75. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 3

Choice of participants and award of contracts

General principles
76. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUB-SECTION 1

Qualification and qualitative selection

Qualification systems
77. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Criteria for qualitative selection
78. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reliance on the capacities of other entities
79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Use of exclusion grounds and selection criteria provided for under the Public Contracts Regulations
80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Quality assurance standards and environmental management standards
81. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUB-SECTION 2

Award of the Contract

Contract award criteria
82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Life-cycle costing
83. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Abnormally low tenders
84. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 4

Tenders comprising products originating in third countries and relations with those countries

Tenders comprising products originating in third countries
85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 4

Contract performance

Conditions for performance of contracts
86. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Subcontracting
87. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Modification of contracts during their term
88. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Termination of contracts
89. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 3

PARTICULAR PROCUREMENT REGIMES
CHAPTER 1

Social and other specific services

Award of contracts for social and other specific services
90. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Publication of notices
91. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Principles of awarding contracts
92. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reserved contracts for certain services
93. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 2

Rules governing design contests

Scope of Chapter 2
94. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notices
95. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rules on the organisation of design contests and the selection of participants and the jury
96. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Decisions of the jury
97. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 4

INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION

Retention of contract copies
98. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Information and documentation requirements
99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 5

REMEDIES
CHAPTER 1

FACILITATION OF REMEDIES

Scope of Chapter 1
100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notices of decisions to award a contract or conclude a framework agreement
101. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Standstill period
102. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 2

APPLICATIONS TO THE COURT

Interpretation of Chapter 2
103. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Duty owed to economic operators from the United Kingdom and Gibraltar
104. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Duty owed to economic operators from countries with whom the EU has an international agreement, other than the GPA
105. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Duty owed to economic operators from GPA parties
105A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Duty owed to economic operators from countries with whom the United Kingdom has an international agreement, other than the GPA
105B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Enforcement of duties through the Court
106. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

General time limits for starting proceedings
107. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Special time limits for seeking a declaration of ineffectiveness
108. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Starting proceedings
109. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contract-making suspended by challenge to award decision
110. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Interim orders
111. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Remedies where the contract has not been entered into
112. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Remedies where the contract has been entered into
113. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grounds for ineffectiveness
114. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

General interest grounds for not making a declaration of ineffectiveness
115. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The consequences of ineffectiveness
116. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Penalties in addition to, or instead of, ineffectiveness
117. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ineffectiveness etc. in relation to specific contracts based on a framework agreement
118. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Injunctions against the Crown
119. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 5A

AMENDING THESE REGULATIONS

General provisions about regulations under these Regulations
119A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART A6

PROCESSING OF INVOICES SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

Contractual provisions relating to the processing of electronic invoices
A120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 6

REVOCATION, MODIFICATION, SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Interpretation of Part 6
120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Revocations
121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Transitional provisions and savings where procurement procedure commenced before 18th April 2016
122. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Time limits and the 2006 Regulations: modification of the existing saving of the original provisions
123. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Transitory provision prior to commencement of regulation 40(1) to (7)
124. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART 7

REVIEW

Review of these Regulations
125. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE A1

PARTIES TO THE GPA
Regulation 2(1)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 1

ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTING WORKS
Regulation 2(1)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 2

SOCIAL AND OTHER SPECIFIC SERVICES
Regulations 16(1)(c) and 90
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 3

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
Regulation 43B and 105B
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Regulations revoked (24.2.2025) by Procurement Act 2023 (c. 54), s. 127(2), Sch. 11 para. 7; S.I. 2024/716, Sch. (with regs. 8, 9) (as amended by S.I. 2024/959, regs. 1(2), 2(6)(7)(a))