European Union (EU) Public Procurement

The European Union (EU) Procurement Directives, and the Regulations that implement them in the UK, set out the law on public procurement. Their purpose is to open up the public procurement market and to ensure the free movement of goods and services within the EU.

Where the regulations apply, contracts must be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU and there are other detailed rules that must be followed. The rules are enforced through the courts, including the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Full EU rules are available from www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/uksi_20060005_en.pdf External Link.

Public Contracts Regulations 2006 - from 1 January 2012

A list of public contract regulations are shown in the first column. Read across a row to find the supplies, services and works cost limits for procurement
  Supplies Services Works
Entities listed in Schedule 11 £113,057
(€130,000)		 £113,0572
(€130,000)		 £4,348,3503
(€5,000,000)
Other public sector contracting authorities £173,934
(€200,000)		 £173,934
(€200,000)		 £4,348,3503
(€5,000,000)
Indicative notices £652,253
(€750,000)		 £652,253
(€750,000)		 £4,348,350
(€4,845,000)
Small lots £69,574
(€80,000)		 £69,574
(€80,000)		 £869,670
(€1,000,000)

1 Schedule 1 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 lists central government bodies subject to the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).

2 With the exception of the following services, which have a threshold of £173,934 (€200,000)

  • Part B (residual) services
  • Research & Development Services (Category 8)
  • The following Telecommunications services in Category 5
      - CPC 7524 - Television and Radio Broadcast services
      - CPC 7525 - Interconnection services
      - CPC 7526 - Integrated telecommunications services
  • Subsidised services contracts under regulation 34.

3 Including subsidised works contracts under regulation 34.

Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006 - from 1 January 2012

A list of utilities contract regulations are shown in the first column. Read across a row to find the supplies, services and works cost limits for procurement
  Supplies Services Works
All sectors £347,868
(€400,000)		 £347,868
(€400,000)		 £4,348,350
(€5,000,000)
Indicative Notices £652,253
(€750,000)		 £652,253
(€750,000)		 £4,348,350
(€4,845,000)
Small lots £69,574
(€80,000)		 £69,574
(€80,000)		 £869,670
(€1,000,000)