Standstill periodS
99.—(1) A utility must allow a period of at least the relevant standstill period to elapse between the date of despatch of the notice referred to in regulation 98(1) (notices of decisions to award a contract or conclude a framework agreement) and the date on which that utility enters into the contract or concludes the framework agreement.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply where—
(a)the contract or framework agreement is exempt from the requirement for prior publication of a call for competition;
(b)there are no tenderers concerned or candidates concerned; or
(c)a notice is not required to be given under regulation 98(1) (notices of decisions to award a contract or conclude a framework agreement).
(3) Where notice is sent to all economic operators by facsimile or electronic means, the standstill period is a period of 10 days ending at midnight at the end of the 10th day after that on which the last notice is sent.
(4) Where the notice is sent to any economic operators only by other means, the standstill period is a period of 15 days ending at midnight at the end of the 15th day after that on which the last notice is sent.