The Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016

Dynamic Purchasing Systems

50.—(1) A utility may use a dynamic purchasing system for commonly used purchases the characteristics of which, as generally available on the market, meet the utility’s requirements.

(2) The dynamic purchasing system must—

(a) be operated as a completely electronic process; and

(b) be open, throughout the period of validity of the system, to any economic operator that satisfies the selection criteria.

(3) The dynamic purchasing system may be divided into categories of works, supplies or services that are objectively defined on the basis of characteristics of the procurement to be undertaken under the category concerned.

(4) The characteristics referred to in paragraph (3) may include reference to either or both of—

(a) the maximum allowable size of the subsequent specific contracts; and

(b) a specific geographic area in which subsequent specific contracts will be performed.

(5) In order to procure under a dynamic purchasing system, a utility must follow the restricted procedure, and accordingly the provisions of regulation 44 (restricted procedure) apply, subject to the provisions of this regulation.

(6) Where a utility has divided the system into categories of works, supplies or services in accordance with paragraph (3), the utility must specify the applicable selection criteria for each category.

(7) A utility must admit to a dynamic purchasing system all of the candidates satisfying the selection criteria and must not limit the number of candidates to be admitted whether under regulation 76(2) (criteria for qualitative selection) or otherwise.

(8) The minimum time period for receipt of requests to participate—

(a) other than in exceptional circumstances, shall be 30 days from the date on which—

(i) the contract notice is sent for publication; or

(ii) where a periodic indicative notice is used as a means of calling for competition, the invitation to confirm interest is sent; and

(b) shall, in any event, be 15 days from such date.

(9) No further time limits for receipt of requests to participate shall apply once the invitation to tender for the first specific procurement under the dynamic purchasing system has been sent.

(10) The minimum time period for receipt of tenders shall be 10 days from the date on which the invitation to tender is sent.

(11) A utility must, throughout the period of validity of the dynamic purchasing system, give any economic operator the possibility of requesting to participate in the system under the conditions referred to in paragraphs (5) to (10).

(12) A utility must finalise evaluation of such requests in accordance with the selection criteria within 10 working days following their receipt.

(13) The deadline referred to in paragraph (12) may be extended to a maximum of 15 working days in individual cases where justified, in particular because of the need to examine additional documentation or otherwise to verify whether the selection criteria are met.

(14) Despite paragraphs (12) and (13), as long as the invitation to tender for the first specific procurement under the dynamic purchasing system has not been sent, a utility may extend the evaluation period provided that no invitation to tender is issued during the extended evaluation period.

(15) Where a utility intends to extend the evaluation period in accordance with paragraph (14), the utility must indicate in the procurement documents the length of the extended period that the utility intends to apply.

(16) A utility must inform the economic operator concerned at the earliest possible opportunity of whether or not it has been admitted to the dynamic purchasing system.

(17) A utility must invite all admitted participants to submit a tender for each specific procurement under the dynamic purchasing system, in accordance with regulation 72 (invitations to candidates).

(18) Where the dynamic purchasing system has been divided into categories of works, supplies or services pursuant to paragraph (3), a utility must invite every relevant participant to submit a tender.

(19) In paragraph (18), “relevant participants” means economic operators which have been admitted to the dynamic purchasing system in relation to the category corresponding to the specific procurement concerned.

(20) For the purposes of awarding contracts under a dynamic purchasing system, a utility must—

(a) publish a call for competition which—

(i) makes it clear that a dynamic purchasing system is involved; and

(ii) indicates the period of validity of the dynamic purchasing system;

(b) indicate in the procurement documents at least the nature and estimated quantity of the purchases envisaged, as well as all the necessary information concerning the dynamic purchasing system, including how the system operates, the electronic equipment used and the technical connection arrangements and specifications;

(c) indicate in the procurement documents any division into categories of works, supplies or services and the characteristics defining them; and

(d) throughout the period of validity of the system, offer unrestricted and full direct access to the procurement documents in accordance with regulation 71 (electronic availability of procurement documents).

(21) A utility must award the contract to the tenderer that submitted the most economically advantageous tender on the basis of the award criteria set out in—

(a) the contract notice for the dynamic purchasing system;

(b) where a periodic indicative notice is used as a means of calling for competition, in the invitation to confirm interest; or

(c) where a notice on the existence of a qualification system is used as a means of calling for competition, in the invitation to tender.

(22) For the purposes of paragraph (21), those criteria, where appropriate, may be formulated more precisely in the invitation to tender.

(23) A utility which, in accordance with regulation 78 (use of exclusion grounds and selection criteria provided for under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations), applies exclusion grounds and selection criteria provided for under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations may, at any time throughout the period of validity of the dynamic purchasing system, require admitted participants to submit a renewed ESPD as provided for in regulation 60(1) of those Regulations within 5 working days from the date on which that request is transmitted.

(24) Regulation 60(7) to (10) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations applies throughout the period of validity of the dynamic purchasing system.

(25) A utility must notify the Commission of any change to the period of validity mentioned in paragraph (20)(a)(ii) using—

(a) where the period of validity is changed without terminating the system, the form used initially for the call for competition for the dynamic purchasing system;

(b) where the system is terminated, a contract award notice referred to in regulation 68 (contract award notices).

(26) No charges may be made to any economic operators which are interested in or are a party to the dynamic purchasing system.

(27) All communications in the context of a dynamic purchasing system must only be made by electronic means in accordance with regulation 38(1) to (7) and (11) to (20) (rules applicable to communication).