The regulations enable councils to use a variety of models to work together on procurement.
This includes ‘central purchasing bodies' (CPBs). A CPB is ‘a contracting authority which provides centralised purchasing activities and which may also provide ancillary purchasing activities' (see below).
What is new?
The regulations make it clear that councils and other public authorities are complying with their EU obligations if they -
- buy goods and services directly from a ‘central purchasing body' (CPB), and/or
- buy goods, works and services through contracts, framework agreements and dynamic purchasing systems (see electronic procurement) set up by a CPB.
Contracts for centralised purchasing services can be awarded directly to a CPB (where appropriate). The contract can include ‘ancillary purchasing services' (covering technical infrastructure, procurement advice, management of procurement projects etc.) meaning that a full managed service can be provided.
The regulations clarify that councils are legally responsible for ensuring compliance in any parts of the procedure they carry out themselves (e.g. awarding contracts through a framework agreement mini-competition).
See also CPBs and electronic procurement.
CPBs are contracting authorities that carry out centralised purchasing on a permanent basis. The regulations also clarify roles and legal responsibilities where authorities undertake ‘occasional joint procurement' and where authorities in different countries work together internationally on procurement.