- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As made)
The Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Changes to legislation:
There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to The Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Regulation 90:
- Regulations applied by 2023 c. 54 s. 119(2)(b)
- Regulations power to amend conferred by 2023 c. 54 s. 115(3)(4)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Instrument associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Instrument (including any effects on those provisions):
- Pt. 5A inserted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(61) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 3(2)-(2C) substituted for reg. 3(2) by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(3)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 15A inserted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(7) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 20(1)(d)(i)(aa) words substituted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(11)(a)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 20(1)(d)(i)(bb) words substituted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(11)(a)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 38A inserted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(26) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 41(1) reg. 41 renumbered as reg. 41(1) by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(27)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 41(1) words omitted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(27)(b)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 5(27)(b)(i) substituted by S.S.I. 2019/114, reg. 2(5)(a)(ii)(aa) and then S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 41(1) words substituted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(27)(b)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 5(27)(b)(ii) omitted by virtue of S.S.I. 2019/114, reg. 2(5)(a)(ii)(bb))
- reg. 41(1) words substituted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(27)(b)(iii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 5(27)(b)(iii) substituted by S.S.I. 2019/114, reg. 2(5)(a)(ii)(cc) and then S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 41(1) words substituted by S.S.I. 2019/112, reg. 5(27)(b)(i) (as substituted) by S.S.I. 2019/114 reg. 2(5)(a)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/114 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(b))
- reg. 41(1) words substituted by S.S.I. 2019/112, reg. 5(27)(b)(iii) (as substituted) by S.S.I. 2019/114 reg. 2(5)(a)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/114 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(b))
- reg. 41(2) inserted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(27)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 50(25)(25A) substituted for reg. 50(25) by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(33)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 66(2A) inserted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(38)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 69(5)(6) inserted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(41)(f) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 74(6A)-(6C) inserted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(44)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 100(3)(3A) substituted for reg. 100(3) by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(58)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/112 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(a))
- reg. 100(4A) inserted by S.S.I. 2019/112, reg. 5(58)(da) (as substituted) by S.S.I. 2019/114 reg. 2(5)(c)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.S.I. 2019/114 revoked immediately before IP completion day by S.S.I. 2020/468, regs. 1(3), 2(2)(b))
Principles of awarding contractsS
This section has no associated Policy Notes
90.—(1) A utility must determine the procedure that is to be applied in connection with the award of a contract or framework subject to this Chapter and may take into account—
(a)the specificities of the services in question; and
(b)the requirements and needs of users.
(2) The procedure must be at least sufficient to ensure compliance with the principles of transparency and equal treatment of economic operators.
(3) The procedure may provide for the exclusion from participation in the procurement of any economic operator in relation to which exclusion grounds referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations apply on the terms set out in that regulation.
(4) Where the utility is a contracting authority, the procedure must provide for the exclusion from participation in the procurement of any economic operator in relation to which exclusion grounds referred to in regulation 58(1) to (3) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations apply on the terms set out in that regulation.
(5) Where, in accordance with regulation 89 (publication of notices), a contract notice F1... has been published in relation to a procurement, the utility must, except in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (6), conduct that procurement, and award any resulting contract or framework, in conformity with the information contained in the notice about—
(a)conditions for participation;
(b)time limits for contacting the utility; and
(c)the award procedure to be applied.
(6) The utility may, however, conduct the procurement, and award any resulting contract or framework, in a way which is not in conformity with that information, but only if all of the following conditions are met—
(a)the failure to conform does not, in the particular circumstances, amount to a breach of the principles of transparency and equal treatment of economic operators;
(b)the utility has—
(i)after giving due consideration to the matter, concluded that sub-paragraph (a) is applicable;
(ii)documented that conclusion and the reasons for it in accordance with regulation 96(5) and (6) (reporting and documentation requirements); and
(iii)informed the participants of the respects in which the utility intends to proceed in a way which is not in accordance with the information contained in the notice.
(7) In paragraph (6)(b)(iii), “participants” means any economic operators which have responded to the notice and not been informed by the utility that they are no longer under consideration for the award of a contract within the scope of the procurement concerned.
(8) All time limits imposed upon economic operators for the purposes of this regulation, whether for responding to a contract notice or taking any other steps in the relevant procedure, must be reasonable and proportionate having regard to the nature of the requirement and the needs of service users.
(9) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), a utility may apply procedures for the purposes of this regulation which correspond (with or without variations) to procedures, techniques or other features otherwise provided for in these Regulations, as well as procedures which do not.
(10) In relation to the award of contracts subject to this regulation, a utility may take into account—
(a)the need to ensure quality, continuity, accessibility, affordability, availability and comprehensiveness of the services;
(b)the specific needs of different categories of users, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups;
(c)the involvement and empowerment of users;
(d)innovation; and
(e)any other relevant consideration.
(11) A utility which is a person mentioned in regulation 4(1)(a) (utilities) must award a contract or framework for services listed in Schedule 2 (social and other specific services) on the basis of the tender representing the best price-quality ratio, taking into account quality and sustainability criteria for such services.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 90(5) omitted (30.5.2023) by virtue of The Public Procurement (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (S.S.I. 2023/124), regs. 2, 5(23) (with reg. 3)
Commencement Information
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Instrument
PrintThe Whole Part
PrintThe Whole Chapter
PrintThis Section only
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
Policy Note
Policy Note sets out a brief statement of the purpose of a Scottish Statutory Instrument and provides information about its policy objective and policy implications. They aim to make the Scottish Statutory Instrument accessible to readers who are not legally qualified and accompany any Scottish Statutory Instrument or Draft Scottish Statutory Instrument laid before the Scottish Parliament from July 2012 onwards. Prior to this date these type of notes existed as ‘Executive Notes’ and accompanied Scottish Statutory Instruments from July 2005 until July 2012.
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.