The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015

SECTION 8 S Rules Governing Design Contests

Scope of Section 8 S

77.—(1) This Section applies to—

(a) design contests organised as part of a procedure leading to the award of a public service contract;

(b) design contests with prizes or payments to participants.

(2) In the cases referred to in paragraph (1)(a), the threshold referred to in regulation 5 (thresholds) is calculated on the basis of the estimated value net of VAT of the public service contract, including any possible prizes or payments to participants.

(3) In the cases referred to in paragraph (1)(b), the threshold referred to in regulation 5 (thresholds) is calculated on the basis of the total amount of the prizes and payments, including the estimated value net of VAT of the public services contract which might subsequently be concluded following a negotiated procedure without prior publication in accordance with regulation 33(6) and (7) (use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication) if the contracting authority has announced its intention to award such a contract in the contest notice.

Notices S

78.—(1) A contracting authority that intends to carry out a design contest must make known its intention by means of a contest notice which includes the information set out in Part E of Annex V to the Directive.

(2) Where a contracting authority intends to award a subsequent service contract under regulation 33(6) (use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication), this must be indicated in the contest notice.

(3) The contracting authority must send the contest notice for publication in accordance with regulation 52 (form and manner of sending notices for publication at EU level).

(4) A contracting authority that has held a design contest must—

(a) send a notice of the results of the contest for publication in accordance with regulation 52 (form and manner of sending notices for publication at EU level); and

(b) be able to prove the date of dispatch of such notice.

(5) The notice of the results of the contest must include the information set out in Part F of Annex V to the Directive.

(6) A contracting authority may withhold from publication information on the result of the contest where the release of the information—

(a) would impede law enforcement or otherwise be contrary to the public interest;

(b) would prejudice the commercial interests of any person; or

(c) might prejudice fair competition between economic operators.

Rules on the organisation of design contests and the selection of participants S

79.—(1) When organising a design contest, a contracting authority must apply procedures which are adapted to the provisions of Chapter 1 and this Section.

(2) The contracting authority must not limit admission of participants to a design contest by reference to the territory or part of the territory of a member State.

(3) Where a design contest is restricted to a limited number of participants, the contracting authority must—

(a) lay down clear and non-discriminatory selection criteria; and

(b) ensure that the number of candidates invited to participate is sufficient to ensure genuine competition in so far as there are enough qualified candidates.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Reg. 79 modified by SSI 2013/50, Sch. 3 para. 10(2)(a) (as substituted (18.4.2016) by The Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/49), reg. 1, sch. 3 para. 3(2)(c))

Appointment and composition of the jury S

80.—(1) A contracting authority must appoint a jury which must be composed exclusively of natural persons who are independent of participants in the contest.

(2) Where a particular professional qualification is required from participants in a contest, at least a third of the members of the jury must have that qualification or an equivalent qualification.

Decisions of the jury S

81.—(1) The jury must be autonomous in its decisions and opinions.

(2) The jury must examine the plans and projects submitted by the candidates anonymously and solely on the basis of the criteria indicated in the contest notice.

(3) The jury must record its ranking of projects in a report, signed by its members, made according to the merits of each project, together with its remarks and any points that may need clarification.

(4) Anonymity must be observed until the jury has reached its opinion or decision.

(5) Candidates may be invited, if need be, to answer questions that the jury has recorded in the minutes to clarify any aspect of the projects.

(6) Complete minutes must be recorded of the dialogue between jury members and candidates.