Published on 28 March 2014, the new Directive 2014/24 replaces
Directive 2004/18 when it comes into force today, 17 April 2014.
Member State governments must transpose it into their
national laws by 18 April 2016. Plans are already well underway
both in London and in Edinburgh to transpose the new rules early,
with consultations due later this year.
The final adopted text does not radically change any of the main
features of OJEU procurement. It does however introduce refinements
to the rules as they are applied today, increasing the obligations
on authorities and requiring greater thought as to both
"what" is being procured and "how" it is to be
tendered to the market. For bidders too, the new rules are
likely to have a significant impact on both "what" is
being procured and "how" tender processes are conducted,
requiring them to be well versed in the detail of these new rules
and the risks and opportunities they may present.
