http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01The Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (revoked)texttext/xmlenStatute Law DatabasePUBLIC PROCUREMENT, ENGLAND AND WALES, PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NORTHERN IRELAND2024-08-22Expert Participation2011-10-01 These Regulations implement, for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 31st March 2004 on the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public services contracts (OJ L 134, 30.4.2004, p114). PART 3 PROCEDURES LEADING TO THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACTThe competitive dialogue procedure181In this regulation—particularly complex contract” means a contract where a contracting authority is not objectively able to—define the technical means in accordance with regulation 9(7), (8) and (9) capable of satisfying its needs or objectives; orspecify either the legal or financial make-up of a project or both; andparticipant” means an economic operator selected by a contracting authority using the procedure referred to in paragraph (2) to participate in the competitive dialogue procedure.2Where a contracting authority wishes to award a particularly complex contract and considers that the use of the open or restricted procedure will not allow the award of that contract, the contracting authority may use the competitive dialogue procedure.3A contracting authority using the competitive dialogue procedure shall comply with the following paragraphs of this regulation.4The contracting authority shall publicise its intention to seek offers in relation to the public contract by sending to the Official Journal, as soon as possible after forming the intention, a notice in the form of a contract notice in Annex II to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1564/2005 inviting requests to participate and containing the information therein specified.5The contracting authority shall specify its needs and requirements in the contract notice and shall define those needs and requirements—ain the contract notice;bin the descriptive document; orcin both those documents.6The contracting authority shall indicate that it may provide for the competitive dialogue procedure to take place in successive stages in accordance with paragraph (22)—ain the contract notice; orbin that notice and the descriptive document.7Subject to paragraph (9), the date which the contracting authority fixes as the last date for the receipt by it of requests to be selected to participate shall be specified in the contract notice and shall be not less than 37 days from the date of the despatch of the notice.8Subject to any minimum time limit specified by this regulation, the contracting authority shall take account of all the circumstances, in particular, the complexity of the contract when fixing time limits for the receipt by it of requests to be selected to participate in the dialogue.9Where the contracting authority has transmitted a contract notice by electronic means in accordance with the format and procedures referred to in paragraph (3) of Annex VIII to the Public Sector Directive, the time limit referred to in paragraph (7) may be reduced by 7 days.10The contracting authority shall make its evaluation in accordance with regulations 23, 24, 25 and 26 and may exclude an economic operator from those economic operators from which it will make the selection of economic operators to be invited to participate in the dialogue only if the economic operator—amay be treated as ineligible on a ground specified in regulation 23; orbfails to satisfy the minimum standards required of economic operators by the contracting authority of—ieconomic and financial standing; oriitechnical or professional ability.11The contracting authority shall make the selection of the economic operators to be invited to participate in the dialogue in accordance with regulations 23, 24, 25 and 26.12Where there is a sufficient number of economic operators suitable to be selected to participate in the dialogue, the contracting authority may limit the number of economic operators which it intends to invite to participate in the dialogue provided that the contract notice specifies—athe objective and non-discriminatory criteria to be applied in order to limit the number of economic operators in accordance with this paragraph; andbthe minimum number of economic operators, which shall be not less than 3, which the contracting authority intends to invite to participate in the dialogue and, where appropriate, the maximum number.13The contracting authority shall ensure that the number of economic operators invited to participate in the dialogue is—asufficient to ensure genuine competition; andbat least equal to the minimum number specified by the contracting authority in accordance with paragraph (12)(b).14Subject to paragraph (13)(a), where—athe contracting authority carries out a selection in accordance with regulations 23, 24, 25 and 26; andbthe number of economic operators selected to be invited to participate in the dialogue is less than the minimum number specified by the contracting authority in the contract notice;that contracting authority may continue the award procedure with the economic operators which have been selected, provided that any economic operator not selected or which did not request to participate is not included.15The contracting authority may require an economic operator to satisfy minimum levels of—aeconomic and financial standing; orbtechnical or professional ability;provided that those minimum levels are specified in the contract notice and are related to and proportionate to the subject matter of the contract.16The contracting authority shall send invitations in writing simultaneously to each economic operator selected to participate in the dialogue and the invitation shall—abe accompanied by the contract documents;bspecify the internet address which offers unrestricted and full direct access by electronic means to the contract documents; orcwhere the contract documents are held by an entity other than the contracting authority, specify the address to which requests for contract documents should be sent including any final date for making such requests and the amount and any method of payment of any fee which may be charged for supplying that information.17Where the contract documents are held by an entity other than the contracting authority, the contracting authority shall ensure that the contract documents are sent to economic operators by the most rapid means of communication possible.18The contracting authority shall include the following information in the invitation—athe date specified for the commencement of the competitive dialogue, the address to which replies must be sent and the one or more languages in which they must be drawn up;ba reference to the contract notice published in accordance with paragraph (4);can indication of the information to be included with the reply which the contracting authority may require to be provided in accordance with regulations 24, 25 and 26; anddthe relative weighting of criteria for the award of the contract or, where appropriate, the descending order of importance for such criteria, if this information was not specified in the contract notice published in accordance with paragraph (4).19The contracting authority or entity referred to in paragraph (16)(c) shall supply such further information to the economic operator relating to the contract documents or the descriptive document as may reasonably be requested by that economic operator provided that the request for such information is received in sufficient time to enable the contracting authority to supply it not less than 6 days before the date specified in the invitation to tender as the final date of the receipt by it of tenders.20The contracting authority shall open with the participants selected in accordance with regulations 23, 24, 25 and 26, a dialogue the aim of which shall be to identify and define the means best suited to satisfying its needs.21During the competitive dialogue procedure, a contracting authority—amay discuss all aspects of the contract with the participants selected;bshall ensure equality of treatment among all participants and in particular, shall not provide information in a discriminatory manner which may give some participants an advantage over others; andcshall not reveal to the other participants solutions proposed or any confidential information communicated by a participant without that participant's agreement.22The contracting authority may provide for the competitive dialogue procedure to take place in successive stages in order to reduce the number of solutions to be discussed during the dialogue stage by applying the award criteria in the contract notice or in the descriptive document.23Where the contracting authority provides for the competitive dialogue procedure to take place in successive stages in accordance with paragraph (22), it shall ensure that the number of economic operators to be invited to participate at the final stage is sufficient to ensure genuine competition to the extent that there is a sufficient number of economic operators to do so.24The contracting authority may continue the competitive dialogue procedure until it can identify one or more solutions, if necessary after comparing them, capable of meeting its needs.25Where the contracting authority declares that the dialogue is concluded, it shall—ainform each participant that the dialogue is concluded;brequest each participant to submit a final tender containing all the elements required and necessary for the performance of the project on the basis of any solution presented and specified during the dialogue; andcspecify in the invitation to submit a tender the final date for the receipt by it of tenders, the address to which they must be sent and the language or languages in which they must be drawn up.26The contracting authority may request a participant to clarify, specify or fine-tune a tender referred to in paragraph (25)(b), but such clarification, specification, fine-tuning or additional information shall not involve changes to the basic features of the tender or the call for tender when those variations are likely to distort competition or have a discriminatory effect.27The contracting authority shall assess the tenders received on the basis of the award criteria specified in the contract notice or descriptive document and shall award the contract to the participant which submits the most economically advantageous tender in accordance with regulation 30(1)(a).28The contracting authority may request the participant identified as having submitted the most economically advantageous tender to clarify aspects of that tender or confirm commitments contained in the tender provided that this does not have the effect of modifying substantial aspects of the tender or of the call for tender and does not risk distorting competition or causing discrimination.29The contracting authority may specify that payments may be made to a participant in respect of the participant's expenses incurred in participating in the competitive dialogue procedure.
This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.
<Legislation xmlns="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5" NumberOfProvisions="76" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation http://www.legislation.gov.uk/schema/legislation.xsd" SchemaVersion="1.0" RestrictExtent="E+W+N.I." RestrictStartDate="2011-10-01" RestrictEndDate="2011-10-28">
<ukm:Metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:ukm="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/metadata">
<dc:identifier>http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01</dc:identifier>
<dc:title>The Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (revoked)</dc:title>
<dc:type>text</dc:type>
<dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:publisher>Statute Law Database</dc:publisher>
<dc:subject scheme="SIheading">PUBLIC PROCUREMENT, ENGLAND AND WALES, PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NORTHERN IRELAND</dc:subject>
<dc:modified>2024-08-22</dc:modified>
<dc:contributor>Expert Participation</dc:contributor>
<dct:valid>2011-10-01</dct:valid>
<dc:description>These Regulations implement, for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 31st March 2004 on the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public services contracts (OJ L 134, 30.4.2004, p114).</dc:description>
<atom:link rel="self" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01/data.xml" type="application/xml"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/resources" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/resources" title="More Resources"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/memorandum" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/memorandum" title="Explanatory Memorandum"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/memorandum/toc" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/memorandum/contents" title="Explanatory Memorandum Table of Contents"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/act" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/2011-10-01" title="whole act"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/introduction" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/introduction/2011-10-01" title="introduction"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/signature" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/signature/2011-10-01" title="signature"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/note" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/note/2011-10-01" title="note"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/body" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/body/2011-10-01" title="body"/>
<atom:link rel="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/def/navigation/schedules" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/schedules/2011-10-01" title="schedules"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/rdf+xml" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01/data.rdf" title="RDF/XML"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/akn+xml" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01/data.akn" title="AKN"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01/data.xht" title="HTML snippet"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01/data.htm" title="Website (XHTML) Default View"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="text/csv" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01/data.csv" title="CSV"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/pdf" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01/data.pdf" title="PDF"/>
<atom:link rel="alternate" type="application/akn+xhtml" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01/data.html" title="HTML5 snippet"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/tableOfContents" hreflang="en" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/contents/2011-10-01" title="Table of Contents"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/isReplacedBy" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2015-02-26" title="2015-02-26"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/made" title="made"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2006-01-31" title="2006-01-31"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2015-02-26" title="2015-02-26"/>
<atom:link rel="http://purl.org/dc/terms/hasVersion" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18" title="current"/>
<atom:link rel="up" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/2011-10-01" title="Entire legislation"/>
<atom:link rel="prev" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/17/2011-10-01" title="Provision; Regulation 17"/>
<atom:link rel="prevInForce" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/17/2011-10-01" title="Provision; Regulation 17"/>
<atom:link rel="next" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/19/2011-10-01" title="Provision; Regulation 19"/>
<atom:link rel="nextInForce" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/19/2011-10-01" title="Provision; Regulation 19"/>
<ukm:SecondaryMetadata>
<ukm:DocumentClassification>
<ukm:DocumentCategory Value="secondary"/>
<ukm:DocumentMainType Value="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument"/>
<ukm:DocumentStatus Value="revised"/>
<ukm:DocumentMinorType Value="regulation"/>
</ukm:DocumentClassification>
<ukm:Year Value="2006"/>
<ukm:Number Value="5"/>
<ukm:Made Date="2006-01-09"/>
<ukm:Laid Date="2006-01-09" Class="UnitedKingdomParliament"/>
<ukm:ComingIntoForce>
<ukm:DateTime Date="2006-01-31"/>
</ukm:ComingIntoForce>
<ukm:ISBN Value="0110738853"/>
<ukm:UnappliedEffects>
<ukm:UnappliedEffect Row="5" AffectedYear="2006" AffectedURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5" AffectingYear="2009" AffectedExtent="E+W+N.I." EffectId="key-4db24100c6b9e3b5701409b81d0005be" AffectingEffectsExtent="E+W+N.I." AffectedClass="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument" AffectedProvisions="Arrangement of Regulations" AffectingURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992" AffectingNumber="2992" Type="words inserted" AffectingProvisions="reg. 3(a)" Modified="2022-03-28T22:54:34Z" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/effect/key-4db24100c6b9e3b5701409b81d0005be" AffectingClass="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument" Notes="This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk.  The arrangement of regulations for this legislation will be dynamically updated when its provisions are revised" RequiresApplied="false" AffectedNumber="5">
<ukm:AffectedTitle>The Public Contracts Regulations 2006</ukm:AffectedTitle>
<ukm:AffectedProvisions>Arrangement of Regulations</ukm:AffectedProvisions>
<ukm:AffectingTitle>The Public Contracts (Amendment) Regulations 2009</ukm:AffectingTitle>
<ukm:AffectingProvisions>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-3-a" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/3/a">reg. 3(a)</ukm:Section>
</ukm:AffectingProvisions>
<ukm:Savings>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-11" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/11">reg. 11</ukm:Section>
</ukm:Savings>
<ukm:CommencementAuthority>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-1-1" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/1/1">reg. 1(1)</ukm:Section>
</ukm:CommencementAuthority>
<ukm:InForceDates>
<ukm:InForce Date="2009-12-20" Qualification="wholly in force"/>
</ukm:InForceDates>
</ukm:UnappliedEffect>
<ukm:UnappliedEffect Notes="This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk.  The arrangement of regulations for this legislation will be dynamically updated when its provisions are revised" RequiresApplied="false" AffectedProvisions="Arrangement of Regulations" AffectingProvisions="reg. 3(b)" AffectedNumber="5" AffectingEffectsExtent="E+W+N.I." Type="words inserted" AffectedClass="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/effect/key-87f053d88a1fe07f2057a902c04fec4d" AffectingYear="2009" Modified="2022-03-28T22:54:34Z" AffectedExtent="E+W+N.I." EffectId="key-87f053d88a1fe07f2057a902c04fec4d" AffectingURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992" AffectingClass="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument" AffectingNumber="2992" AffectedURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5" Row="6" AffectedYear="2006">
<ukm:AffectedTitle>The Public Contracts Regulations 2006</ukm:AffectedTitle>
<ukm:AffectedProvisions>Arrangement of Regulations</ukm:AffectedProvisions>
<ukm:AffectingTitle>The Public Contracts (Amendment) Regulations 2009</ukm:AffectingTitle>
<ukm:AffectingProvisions>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-3-b" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/3/b">reg. 3(b)</ukm:Section>
</ukm:AffectingProvisions>
<ukm:Savings>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-11" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/11">reg. 11</ukm:Section>
</ukm:Savings>
<ukm:CommencementAuthority>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-1-1" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/1/1">reg. 1(1)</ukm:Section>
</ukm:CommencementAuthority>
<ukm:InForceDates>
<ukm:InForce Date="2009-12-20" Qualification="wholly in force"/>
</ukm:InForceDates>
</ukm:UnappliedEffect>
<ukm:UnappliedEffect AffectingProvisions="reg. 3(c)" AffectingClass="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument" AffectedURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/effect/key-6aefa239c0b1d60fbb0e73e83d491898" Modified="2022-03-28T22:54:34Z" AffectingYear="2009" AffectedProvisions="Arrangement of Regulations" Notes="This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk.  The arrangement of regulations for this legislation will be dynamically updated when its provisions are revised" AffectingEffectsExtent="E+W+N.I." AffectingNumber="2992" AffectedClass="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument" Type="words substituted" Row="7" RequiresApplied="false" AffectedYear="2006" AffectedExtent="E+W+N.I." AffectedNumber="5" EffectId="key-6aefa239c0b1d60fbb0e73e83d491898" AffectingURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992">
<ukm:AffectedTitle>The Public Contracts Regulations 2006</ukm:AffectedTitle>
<ukm:AffectedProvisions>Arrangement of Regulations</ukm:AffectedProvisions>
<ukm:AffectingTitle>The Public Contracts (Amendment) Regulations 2009</ukm:AffectingTitle>
<ukm:AffectingProvisions>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-3-c" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/3/c">reg. 3(c)</ukm:Section>
</ukm:AffectingProvisions>
<ukm:Savings>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-11" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/11">reg. 11</ukm:Section>
</ukm:Savings>
<ukm:CommencementAuthority>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-1-1" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2992/regulation/1/1">reg. 1(1)</ukm:Section>
</ukm:CommencementAuthority>
<ukm:InForceDates>
<ukm:InForce Date="2009-12-20" Qualification="wholly in force"/>
</ukm:InForceDates>
</ukm:UnappliedEffect>
<ukm:UnappliedEffect AppendedCommentary="2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)" AffectedNumber="5" RequiresApplied="false" Type="modified" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/effect/key-91fc663541449e238678883c8efedd3e" AffectingURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2019/560" Comments="IP completion day" Row="8" AffectedYear="2006" Notes="This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Affecting Regulations revoked (20.11.2020) by S.I. 2020/1319, regs. 1(3), 2(a)" AffectingNumber="560" AffectingClass="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument" EffectId="key-91fc663541449e238678883c8efedd3e" AffectingEffectsExtent="E+W+S+N.I." AffectedProvisions="Regulations" AffectingProvisions="reg. 11" AffectedExtent="E+W+N.I." AffectedClass="UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument" AffectedURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5" Modified="2022-03-28T22:54:34Z" AffectingYear="2019">
<ukm:AffectedTitle>The Public Contracts Regulations 2006</ukm:AffectedTitle>
<ukm:AffectedProvisions>Regulations</ukm:AffectedProvisions>
<ukm:AffectingTitle>The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019</ukm:AffectingTitle>
<ukm:AffectingProvisions>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-11" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2019/560/regulation/11">reg. 11</ukm:Section>
</ukm:AffectingProvisions>
<ukm:Savings>
<ukm:Section Ref="schedule" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2019/560/schedule">Sch.</ukm:Section>
</ukm:Savings>
<ukm:CommencementAuthority>
<ukm:Section Ref="regulation-1-2" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2019/560/regulation/1/2">reg. 1(2)</ukm:Section>
</ukm:CommencementAuthority>
<ukm:InForceDates>
<ukm:InForce Date="2020-12-31" Qualification="wholly in force"/>
</ukm:InForceDates>
</ukm:UnappliedEffect>
</ukm:UnappliedEffects>
</ukm:SecondaryMetadata>
<ukm:Notes>
<ukm:Note IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/notes"/>
<ukm:Alternatives>
<ukm:Alternative Date="2008-12-11" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/pdfs/uksiem_20060005_en.pdf" Title="Explanatory Memorandum"/>
</ukm:Alternatives>
</ukm:Notes>
<ukm:Alternatives>
<ukm:Alternative Date="2008-12-10" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/pdfs/uksi_20060005_en.pdf" Title="Print Version"/>
</ukm:Alternatives>
<ukm:Statistics>
<ukm:TotalParagraphs Value="174"/>
<ukm:BodyParagraphs Value="67"/>
<ukm:ScheduleParagraphs Value="107"/>
<ukm:AttachmentParagraphs Value="0"/>
<ukm:TotalImages Value="0"/>
</ukm:Statistics>
</ukm:Metadata>
<Secondary>
<Body DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/body/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/body" NumberOfProvisions="67" RestrictStartDate="2011-10-01">
<Part DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/part/3/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/part/3" NumberOfProvisions="12" RestrictEndDate="2015-02-26" id="part-3" RestrictStartDate="2011-10-01">
<Number>
<Strong>PART 3</Strong>
</Number>
<Title>PROCEDURES LEADING TO THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT</Title>
<P1group RestrictEndDate="2015-02-26" RestrictStartDate="2006-01-31">
<Title>The competitive dialogue procedure</Title>
<P1 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18" id="regulation-18">
<Pnumber>18</Pnumber>
<P1para>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/1/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/1" id="regulation-18-1">
<Pnumber>1</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>In this regulation—</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<UnorderedList Decoration="none" Class="Definition">
<ListItem>
<Para>
<Text>
<Term id="term-particularly-complex-contract">particularly complex contract</Term>
” means a contract where a contracting authority is not objectively able to—
</Text>
</Para>
<OrderedList Type="alpha" Decoration="parens">
<ListItem NumberOverride="a">
<Para>
<Text>define the technical means in accordance with regulation 9(7), (8) and (9) capable of satisfying its needs or objectives; or</Text>
</Para>
</ListItem>
<ListItem NumberOverride="b">
<Para>
<Text>specify either the legal or financial make-up of a project or both; and</Text>
</Para>
</ListItem>
</OrderedList>
</ListItem>
<ListItem>
<Para>
<Text>
<Term id="term-participant">participant</Term>
” means an economic operator selected by a contracting authority using the procedure referred to in paragraph (2) to participate in the competitive dialogue procedure.
</Text>
</Para>
</ListItem>
</UnorderedList>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/2" id="regulation-18-2">
<Pnumber>2</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Where a contracting authority wishes to award a particularly complex contract and considers that the use of the open or restricted procedure will not allow the award of that contract, the contracting authority may use the competitive dialogue procedure.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/3/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/3" id="regulation-18-3">
<Pnumber>3</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>A contracting authority using the competitive dialogue procedure shall comply with the following paragraphs of this regulation.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/4/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/4" id="regulation-18-4">
<Pnumber>4</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>
The contracting authority shall publicise its intention to seek offers in relation to the public contract by sending to the Official Journal, as soon as possible after forming the intention, a notice in the form of a contract notice in Annex II to Commission Regulation
<Citation URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/european/regulation/2005/1564" id="c00013" Class="EuropeanUnionRegulation" Year="2005" Number="1564">(EC) No 1564/2005</Citation>
inviting requests to participate and containing the information therein specified.
</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/5/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/5" id="regulation-18-5">
<Pnumber>5</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall specify its needs and requirements in the contract notice and shall define those needs and requirements—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/5/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/5/a" id="regulation-18-5-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>in the contract notice;</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/5/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/5/b" id="regulation-18-5-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>in the descriptive document; or</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/5/c/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/5/c" id="regulation-18-5-c">
<Pnumber>c</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>in both those documents.</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/6/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/6" id="regulation-18-6">
<Pnumber>6</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall indicate that it may provide for the competitive dialogue procedure to take place in successive stages in accordance with paragraph (22)—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/6/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/6/a" id="regulation-18-6-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>in the contract notice; or</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/6/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/6/b" id="regulation-18-6-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>in that notice and the descriptive document.</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/7/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/7" id="regulation-18-7">
<Pnumber>7</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Subject to paragraph (9), the date which the contracting authority fixes as the last date for the receipt by it of requests to be selected to participate shall be specified in the contract notice and shall be not less than 37 days from the date of the despatch of the notice.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/8/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/8" id="regulation-18-8">
<Pnumber>8</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Subject to any minimum time limit specified by this regulation, the contracting authority shall take account of all the circumstances, in particular, the complexity of the contract when fixing time limits for the receipt by it of requests to be selected to participate in the dialogue.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/9/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/9" id="regulation-18-9">
<Pnumber>9</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Where the contracting authority has transmitted a contract notice by electronic means in accordance with the format and procedures referred to in paragraph (3) of Annex VIII to the Public Sector Directive, the time limit referred to in paragraph (7) may be reduced by 7 days.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10" id="regulation-18-10">
<Pnumber>10</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall make its evaluation in accordance with regulations 23, 24, 25 and 26 and may exclude an economic operator from those economic operators from which it will make the selection of economic operators to be invited to participate in the dialogue only if the economic operator—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/a" id="regulation-18-10-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>may be treated as ineligible on a ground specified in regulation 23; or</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/b" id="regulation-18-10-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>fails to satisfy the minimum standards required of economic operators by the contracting authority of—</Text>
<P4 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/b/i/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/b/i" id="regulation-18-10-b-i">
<Pnumber>i</Pnumber>
<P4para>
<Text>economic and financial standing; or</Text>
</P4para>
</P4>
<P4 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/b/ii/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/10/b/ii" id="regulation-18-10-b-ii">
<Pnumber>ii</Pnumber>
<P4para>
<Text>technical or professional ability.</Text>
</P4para>
</P4>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/11/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/11" id="regulation-18-11">
<Pnumber>11</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall make the selection of the economic operators to be invited to participate in the dialogue in accordance with regulations 23, 24, 25 and 26.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/12/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/12" id="regulation-18-12">
<Pnumber>12</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Where there is a sufficient number of economic operators suitable to be selected to participate in the dialogue, the contracting authority may limit the number of economic operators which it intends to invite to participate in the dialogue provided that the contract notice specifies—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/12/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/12/a" id="regulation-18-12-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>the objective and non-discriminatory criteria to be applied in order to limit the number of economic operators in accordance with this paragraph; and</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/12/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/12/b" id="regulation-18-12-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>the minimum number of economic operators, which shall be not less than 3, which the contracting authority intends to invite to participate in the dialogue and, where appropriate, the maximum number.</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/13/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/13" id="regulation-18-13">
<Pnumber>13</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall ensure that the number of economic operators invited to participate in the dialogue is—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/13/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/13/a" id="regulation-18-13-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>sufficient to ensure genuine competition; and</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/13/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/13/b" id="regulation-18-13-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>at least equal to the minimum number specified by the contracting authority in accordance with paragraph (12)(b).</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/14/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/14" id="regulation-18-14">
<Pnumber>14</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Subject to paragraph (13)(a), where—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/14/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/14/a" id="regulation-18-14-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>the contracting authority carries out a selection in accordance with regulations 23, 24, 25 and 26; and</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/14/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/14/b" id="regulation-18-14-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>the number of economic operators selected to be invited to participate in the dialogue is less than the minimum number specified by the contracting authority in the contract notice;</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<Text>that contracting authority may continue the award procedure with the economic operators which have been selected, provided that any economic operator not selected or which did not request to participate is not included.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/15/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/15" id="regulation-18-15">
<Pnumber>15</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority may require an economic operator to satisfy minimum levels of—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/15/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/15/a" id="regulation-18-15-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>economic and financial standing; or</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/15/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/15/b" id="regulation-18-15-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>technical or professional ability;</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<Text>provided that those minimum levels are specified in the contract notice and are related to and proportionate to the subject matter of the contract.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/16/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/16" id="regulation-18-16">
<Pnumber>16</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall send invitations in writing simultaneously to each economic operator selected to participate in the dialogue and the invitation shall—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/16/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/16/a" id="regulation-18-16-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>be accompanied by the contract documents;</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/16/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/16/b" id="regulation-18-16-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>specify the internet address which offers unrestricted and full direct access by electronic means to the contract documents; or</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/16/c/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/16/c" id="regulation-18-16-c">
<Pnumber>c</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>where the contract documents are held by an entity other than the contracting authority, specify the address to which requests for contract documents should be sent including any final date for making such requests and the amount and any method of payment of any fee which may be charged for supplying that information.</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/17/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/17" id="regulation-18-17">
<Pnumber>17</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Where the contract documents are held by an entity other than the contracting authority, the contracting authority shall ensure that the contract documents are sent to economic operators by the most rapid means of communication possible.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18" id="regulation-18-18">
<Pnumber>18</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall include the following information in the invitation—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/a" id="regulation-18-18-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>the date specified for the commencement of the competitive dialogue, the address to which replies must be sent and the one or more languages in which they must be drawn up;</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/b" id="regulation-18-18-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>a reference to the contract notice published in accordance with paragraph (4);</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/c/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/c" id="regulation-18-18-c">
<Pnumber>c</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>an indication of the information to be included with the reply which the contracting authority may require to be provided in accordance with regulations 24, 25 and 26; and</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/d/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/18/d" id="regulation-18-18-d">
<Pnumber>d</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>the relative weighting of criteria for the award of the contract or, where appropriate, the descending order of importance for such criteria, if this information was not specified in the contract notice published in accordance with paragraph (4).</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/19/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/19" id="regulation-18-19">
<Pnumber>19</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority or entity referred to in paragraph (16)(c) shall supply such further information to the economic operator relating to the contract documents or the descriptive document as may reasonably be requested by that economic operator provided that the request for such information is received in sufficient time to enable the contracting authority to supply it not less than 6 days before the date specified in the invitation to tender as the final date of the receipt by it of tenders.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/20/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/20" id="regulation-18-20">
<Pnumber>20</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall open with the participants selected in accordance with regulations 23, 24, 25 and 26, a dialogue the aim of which shall be to identify and define the means best suited to satisfying its needs.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/21/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/21" id="regulation-18-21">
<Pnumber>21</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>During the competitive dialogue procedure, a contracting authority—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/21/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/21/a" id="regulation-18-21-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>may discuss all aspects of the contract with the participants selected;</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/21/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/21/b" id="regulation-18-21-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>shall ensure equality of treatment among all participants and in particular, shall not provide information in a discriminatory manner which may give some participants an advantage over others; and</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/21/c/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/21/c" id="regulation-18-21-c">
<Pnumber>c</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>shall not reveal to the other participants solutions proposed or any confidential information communicated by a participant without that participant's agreement.</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/22/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/22" id="regulation-18-22">
<Pnumber>22</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority may provide for the competitive dialogue procedure to take place in successive stages in order to reduce the number of solutions to be discussed during the dialogue stage by applying the award criteria in the contract notice or in the descriptive document.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/23/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/23" id="regulation-18-23">
<Pnumber>23</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Where the contracting authority provides for the competitive dialogue procedure to take place in successive stages in accordance with paragraph (22), it shall ensure that the number of economic operators to be invited to participate at the final stage is sufficient to ensure genuine competition to the extent that there is a sufficient number of economic operators to do so.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/24/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/24" id="regulation-18-24">
<Pnumber>24</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority may continue the competitive dialogue procedure until it can identify one or more solutions, if necessary after comparing them, capable of meeting its needs.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/25/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/25" id="regulation-18-25">
<Pnumber>25</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>Where the contracting authority declares that the dialogue is concluded, it shall—</Text>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/25/a/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/25/a" id="regulation-18-25-a">
<Pnumber>a</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>inform each participant that the dialogue is concluded;</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/25/b/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/25/b" id="regulation-18-25-b">
<Pnumber>b</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>request each participant to submit a final tender containing all the elements required and necessary for the performance of the project on the basis of any solution presented and specified during the dialogue; and</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
<P3 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/25/c/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/25/c" id="regulation-18-25-c">
<Pnumber>c</Pnumber>
<P3para>
<Text>specify in the invitation to submit a tender the final date for the receipt by it of tenders, the address to which they must be sent and the language or languages in which they must be drawn up.</Text>
</P3para>
</P3>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/26/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/26" id="regulation-18-26">
<Pnumber>26</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority may request a participant to clarify, specify or fine-tune a tender referred to in paragraph (25)(b), but such clarification, specification, fine-tuning or additional information shall not involve changes to the basic features of the tender or the call for tender when those variations are likely to distort competition or have a discriminatory effect.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/27/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/27" id="regulation-18-27">
<Pnumber>27</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority shall assess the tenders received on the basis of the award criteria specified in the contract notice or descriptive document and shall award the contract to the participant which submits the most economically advantageous tender in accordance with regulation 30(1)(a).</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/28/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/28" id="regulation-18-28">
<Pnumber>28</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority may request the participant identified as having submitted the most economically advantageous tender to clarify aspects of that tender or confirm commitments contained in the tender provided that this does not have the effect of modifying substantial aspects of the tender or of the call for tender and does not risk distorting competition or causing discrimination.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
<P2 DocumentURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/29/2011-10-01" IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/5/regulation/18/29" id="regulation-18-29">
<Pnumber>29</Pnumber>
<P2para>
<Text>The contracting authority may specify that payments may be made to a participant in respect of the participant's expenses incurred in participating in the competitive dialogue procedure.</Text>
</P2para>
</P2>
</P1para>
</P1>
</P1group>
</Part>
</Body>
</Secondary>
</Legislation>