The Public Contracts Regulations 2015

Electronic availability of procurement documents

53.—(1) Contracting authorities shall, by means of the internet, offer unrestricted and full direct access free of charge to the procurement documents from the date of the publication in the Official Journal of a notice sent in accordance with regulation 51 or the date on which an invitation to confirm interest is sent.

(2) The text of the notice or the invitation to confirm interest shall specify the internet address at which the procurement documents are accessible.

(3) Where unrestricted and full direct access free of charge to certain procurement documents cannot be offered by means of the internet for one of the reasons set out in regulation 22(3), contracting authorities may indicate in the notice or the invitation to confirm interest that the procurement documents concerned will be transmitted by means other than the internet in accordance with paragraphs (6) and (7).

(4) Where unrestricted and full direct access free of charge to certain procurement documents cannot be offered by means of the internet because contracting authorities intend to apply regulation 21(3), contracting authorities shall indicate in the notice or the invitation to confirm interest which measures aimed at protecting the confidential nature of the information they require and how access can be obtained to the documents concerned.

(5) In the cases referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4), the time limit for the submission of tenders shall be prolonged by 5 days, except in the cases of duly substantiated urgency referred to in regulations 27(5), 28(10) and 29(10).

(6) Provided that it has been requested in good time, contracting authorities shall supply to all tenderers taking part in the procurement procedure additional information relating to the specifications and any supporting documents not later than 6 days before the time limit fixed for the receipt of tenders.

(7) In the case of an accelerated procedure, the period mentioned in paragraph (6) shall be 4 days.