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EC Procurement Thresholds

The European public contracts directive (2004/18/EC) applies to public authorities including, amongst others, government departments, local authorities and NHS Authorities and Trusts. The European utilities contracts directive (2004/17/EC) applies to certain utility companies operating in the Energy, Water, and Transport sectors.

The directives set out detailed procedures for the award of contracts whose value equals or exceeds specific thresholds. Details of the thresholds, applying from 1st January 2010 are given below. Thresholds are net of VAT.

PUBLIC CONTRACTS REGULATIONS 2006 - FROM 1 JANUARY 2010

	SUPPLIES	SERVICES	WORKS
Entities listed in Schedule 1¹	£101,323 (€125,000)	£101,323² (€125,000)	£3,927,260 (€4,845,000)
Other public sector contracting authorities	£156,442 (€193,000)	£156,442 (€193,000)	£3,927,260 (€4,845,000)
Indicative Notices	£607,935 (€750,000)	£607,935 (€750,000)	£3,927,260 (€4,845,000)
Small lots	£64,846 (€80,000)	£64,846 (€80,000)	£810,580 (€1,000,000)

¹ Schedule 1 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 lists central government bodies subject to the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). These thresholds will also apply to any successor bodies.

² With the exception of the following services, which have a threshold of £156,442 (€193,000)

Part B (residual) services
Research & Development Services (Category 8)
The following Telecommunications services in Category 5
- CPC 7524 - Television and Radio Broadcast services
- CPC 7525 - Interconnection services
- CPC 7526 - Integrated telecommunications services
Subsidised services contracts under regulation 34

UTILITIES CONTRACTS REGULATIONS 2006 - FROM 1 JANUARY 2010

	SUPPLIES	SERVICES	WORKS
All sectors	£313,694 (€387,000)	£313,694 (€387,000)	£3,927,260 (€4,845,000)
Indicative Notices	£607,935 (€750,000)	£607,935 (€750,000)	£3,927,260 (€4,845,000)
Small lots	£64,846 (€80,000)	£64,846 (€80,000)	£810,580 (€1,000,000)