Public Contracts Regulations 2015 - Regulation 48
Regulation 48 - Prior Information Notices
In Regulation 48 we can find the information related with the use of prior information (PIN) notices by contracting authorities. PIN notices allow contracting authorities to inform the market in advance of what it intends to buy in the future. They can have three main functions. First, contracting authorities can use them to check the market and see what is available before launching a tender. Second, they can be used to reduce the timescales of a subsequent public procurement procedure in case certain requirements are met. Third, sub-central contracting authorities can use them effectively as contract notices. PIN notices are not new and personally I find it a shame that they are not used more often in public procurement. As they imply a lot of thinking ahead and horizon scanning I think this provides indirect evidence that those activities are not well ingrained into public procurement practice. On the other hand, in a universe full of PIN notices, cartels would have a lot of time to slice and dice their own markets.
According to paragraph 3, contracting authorities are given two options in what concerns the use of PIN notices: they can either send the PIN notice with full information for publication in the Official Journal or, instead, publish it locally (ie, nationally) on a buyer's profile. The first one needs to be done in accordance with Regulation 51 and the second with Regulation 52. In either case it seems that it is possible to achieve the timescale reductions in open and restricted procedures.
Having said that, in case the PIN is published "nationally" then at least some information will always have to be published on the Official Journal (ie the information that there is a PIN notice in the buyer profile...), thus begetting the question of why allowing PINs to published nationally in the first place, particularly as they can be used to reduce timescales, thus making life more difficult for foreign suppliers. Am I the only one thinking this is a loophole?
Sub-central contracting authorities can also use the PIN notice in lieu of a contract notice as long as it complies with the requirements set in paragraphs 5 and 6. In general we are talking about providing the information required in the contract notice. Two limitations apply in this situation however. First, it is only valid for procedures launched within 35 days and 12 months after the notice is published. Second, the notice must be published in full in the Official Journal, so contracting authorities are not authorised to publish it in full on a buyer's profile instead.
In yet another strange structure reversal the general rule covering the duration of PIN notices comes in paragraph 7 (12 months validity), after the special rule for sub-central contracting authorities mentioned above. Paragraph 8 includes as well a specific rule for social contracts, where the PIN may cover a period longer than 12 months. Personally I cannot see a reason why it would make sense for a PIN notice to be issued so earlier before the actual tendering. Well, maybe I do see one...