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The Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016
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The Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016, Section 50 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 24 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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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 50:
- Regulations applied by 2023 c. 54 s. 119(2)(b)
- reg. 50(8)(a)(i) word substituted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(33)(a) (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(23) word substituted by S.S.I. 2019/112 reg. 5(33)(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))
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))
Dynamic Purchasing SystemsS
This section has no associated Policy Notes
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 [F1submitted] for publication; F2...
F2(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(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;
F3(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(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 [F4SPD] 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.
[F5(25) Where the period of validity is changed without terminating the dynamic purchasing system, the utility must submit for publication on the UK e-notification service a notice of the kind used initially for the call for competition for the dynamic purchasing system.
(25A) Where a dynamic purchasing system is terminated before the end of the period of validity that had most recently been indicated under paragraph (20)(a)(ii) or (25), the utility must submit for publication on the UK e-notification service a contract award notice under regulation 68.]
(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).
Textual Amendments
F1Word in reg. 50(8)(a)(i) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Public Procurement etc. (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/468), regs. 1(2), 6(33)(a) (with sch. paras. 1-5)
F2Reg. 50(8)(a)(ii) and word omitted (30.5.2023) by virtue of The Public Procurement (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (S.S.I. 2023/124), regs. 2, 5(12)(a) (with reg. 3)
F3Reg. 50(21)(b) omitted (30.5.2023) by virtue of The Public Procurement (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (S.S.I. 2023/124), regs. 2, 5(12)(b) (with reg. 3)
F4Word in reg. 50(23) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Public Procurement etc. (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/468), regs. 1(2), 6(33)(b) (with sch. paras. 1-5)
F5Reg. 50(25)(25A) substituted for reg. 50(25) (31.12.2020) by The Public Procurement etc. (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/468), regs. 1(2), 6(33)(c) (with sch. paras. 1-5)
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