23.—(1) This regulation applies in the case of contracts intended to cover several activities, one of them being listed in Schedule 2 and another being covered by [F1regulation 7(3)] or the Defence and Security Regulations.
(2) Utilities may choose to award separate contracts for the purposes of the separate activities or to award a single contract for the purposes of all the activities.
(3) The choice between awarding a single contract or awarding separate contracts shall not, however, be made with the objective of excluding the contract or contracts from the scope of these Regulations or the Defence and Security Regulations and a decision to award a single contract shall be justified by objective reasons.
(4) Where utilities choose to award separate contracts for separate parts, the decision as to which legal regime applies to any one of the separate contracts shall be taken on the basis of the characteristics of the separate activity concerned.
(5) Where utilities choose to award a single contract, the following shall apply—
(a)in the case of a contract intended to cover an activity which is covered by these Regulations and another which is covered by [F2regulation 7(3)], the utility may award the contract without applying these Regulations;
(b)in the case of a contract intended to cover an activity which is covered by these Regulations and another which is covered by the Defence and Security Regulations, the utility may award the contract either in accordance with these Regulations or in accordance with the Defence and Security Regulations.
(6) Paragraph (5)(b) is without prejudice to the thresholds and exclusions for which the Defence and Security Regulations provide.
(7) Contracts referred to in paragraph (5)(b) which also include procurement or other elements which are covered by [F3regulation 7(3)] may be awarded without applying these Regulations.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 23(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1319), regs. 1(2), 8(14) (with Sch. paras. 3-5)
F2Words in reg. 23(5)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1319), regs. 1(2), 8(14) (with Sch. paras. 3-5)
F3Words in reg. 23(7) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1319), regs. 1(2), 8(14) (with Sch. paras. 3-5)