PART 7STAGES OF A TENDER ROUND
Stages of a tender round
12.—(1) A tender round to be held in accordance with these Regulations shall comprise the following stages–
(a)a pre-qualification stage in order to determine which bidders shall become qualifying bidders in respect of each qualifying project within that tender round;
(b)subject to paragraph (2), a qualification to tender stage in order to determine which qualifying bidders shall be invited to participate in an invitation to tender stage in respect of each qualifying project within that tender round;
(c)an invitation to tender stage in order to determine which qualifying bidders shall be selected to become preferred bidders or reserve bidders in respect of each qualifying project within that tender round;
(d)where the Authority determines in accordance with the criteria set out in the invitation to tender documentation in respect of a particular qualifying project, a best and final offer stage in respect of that particular qualifying project within that tender round; and
(e)a preferred bidder stage in order to determine the successful bidder to whom an offshore transmission licence is to be granted in respect of a particular qualifying project within that tender round.
(2) The Authority may determine not to hold a qualification to tender stage where the Authority considers it is not necessary in relation to a particular generator build tender exercise.