As with all Government Departments and many other public sector organisations, DCA is subject to the EU Procurement Directives, which regulate how we procure goods and services. These Regulations are a framework of good practice which promote transparency of procurement procedures and effective competition for all public sector contracts, ensuring free movement of goods and services throughout the EU.
The current thresholds (as at 1 January 2004) for taking the requirement to Europe are:
Supplies and Services - £99,695
Works - £3,834,411
Contracts with a value over the relevant thresholds above will be subject to the EU procedures, unless there are exceptional circumstances, or the requirement is exempt e.g. training and some consultancy services.
Contracts competed through Europe will be advertised in OJEU (the Official Journal of the European Union) by way of a contract notice, inviting expressions of interests from potential suppliers.
The competition process then follows the general procurement process, following the prescribed EU timescales.
Details of EU tenders and contract notices can be found on the SIMAP website.