A story in Supply Management reportsthat recent changes to the EU procurement directives have been generally well-received and that the UK has pledged to implement those changes in short order:
The overhaul of public sector procurement directives agreed by the European Parliament has been broadly welcomed.
Political parties and trade bodies have been positive about how the changes will encourage more SMEs and public sector mutuals to bid for contracts while putting more emphasis on social and environmental impacts in the tendering process. However, concerns have been expressed the social criteria do not go far enough, while problems around abnormally low tenders in construction contracts have not been addressed. Governments have two years to transpose the directives into law but the UK government has said it will seek to do this “quickly”.
