Procedures & Thresholds
The way in which goods and services are awarded is governed by EU legislation.
Legislation
The way in which goods and services are awarded is governed by EU legislation.
Click here for full EU legislation
Thresholds
Contracts at certain values must follow one of the following set procedures.
Open and Restricted are the most commonly used in public sector tendering.
- Open - any supplier may tender.
Restricted - 2 stage process, any supplier can apply to be selected to be invited to tender. - Negotiated - 2 stage process that allows buyers to enter negotiations with more than one supplier (limited circumstances).
- Competitive Dialogue - Any undertaking can apply to be selected to participate, used to allow buyers to discuss their requirements (limited circumstances).
- Accelerated Restricted/Negotiated - For use only in exceptional circumstances of urgency not of the contracting authority's making.
Click here for threshold values
Contracts below threshold
Contracting authorities still have an obligation of transparency and must demonstrate a degree of advertising sufficient to enable the market to be opened up to competition.
Many public sector buying organisations use the Quick Quote facility within Public Contacts Scotland to obtain competitive quotes for low value/low risk procurement.
Click here for more information on Quick Quote
Purchasing at lower levels
Thresholds and procedures for purchasing at lower levels are
also explained within the 'Standing Orders' of public sector
organisation.
