The standstill period—PA 2023

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Produced in partnership with Laura McIntyre of Womble Bond Dickinson
Practice notes

The standstill period—PA 2023

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Produced in partnership with Laura McIntyre of Womble Bond Dickinson

Practice notes
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STOP PRESS: As of 24 February 2025, the main provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) are in force. Procurements begun on or after this date must be carried out under PA 2023, whereas those begun under the previous legislation (the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, the Concession Regulations 2016, and the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) must continue to be procured and managed under that legislation. See Practice Note: Introduction to the Procurement Act 2023—PA 2023.

This content relates to the Procurement Act 2023 regime

This practical guidance is about public procurement under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023). For practical guidance on the standstill period under the previous legislation, see Practice Note: The standstill period.

What is the standstill period?

When a contracting authority reaches its decision on the award of a public contract subject to PA 2023, it must observe a standstill period before entering into the relevant contract, unless a specific exemption applies.

A standstill period is not mandated, but may be observed

Laura McIntyre
Laura McIntyre

Managing Associate, Womble Bond Dickinson

Laura specialises in procurement law. She has advised central government departments, utilities, local authorities, NHS bodies, other public sector bodies and the private sector on a wide variety of procurement law issues. Laura also has experience of advising private and public sector bodies on contract law issues at national and international levels.

Laura regularly advises on high value, complex procurement processes and the general application of procurement law, including: drafting procurement documents and related contracts; advising on challenges to procurement processes (both claimant and defendant); general ad-hoc advice on issues such as urgent direct awards; extensions and variations to existing contracts; and the robustness of procurement processes generally.

In particular, Laura has been involved with:
• the successful implementation of an innovative neutral vendor framework;
• the procurement of delivery partners to design, build, operate and maintain various heat networks across the UK;
• advising major train operators in respect of a large number of multi-million pound procurements for goods and services;
• the establishment of a multi-billion pound category tower as part of the implementation of NHS Supply Chain's future operating model; 
• the successful challenge and defence of a number of procurement processes; and
• advising on and drafting a number of high value contracts relating to the supply of pharmaceutical and biomedical supplies to the manufacturers of a number of COVID-19 vaccines.

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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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