Press Release: Public procurement: Commission aims to improve rights of rejected bidders to challenge decisions

The European Commission on 11 May 2006 put forward a proposal to improve the national review procedures that businesses can use when they consider that a public authority has awarded a contract unfairly. The proposed Directive would require public authorities to wait a certain number of days, known as a 'standstill period', before concluding a public contract following the announcement of its award. This would give rejected bidders the opportunity to start an effective and swift review procedure at a time when any unfair decisions could still be corrected.

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/06/193: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Commission proposal to improve remedies in public procurement, 11.5.06 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/193&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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