On December 19, 1998 the new statute on public works projects came into force (no. 415 of 18/11/98, so called Law Merloni-ter). The statute completes the legislative regulatory framework for public tenders and introduces some new instruments aimed at broadening and streamlining the relative procedures, and significantly shortening the length of proceedings before the Regional Administrative Tribunals, in order that those courts can decide cases within a period of three months. Among the principal innovations, we call the reader's attention to the introduction of a new simplified procedure on public tenders upon invitation (licitazione privata) which allows public bodies entering into public procurement contracts to profit from the competition of a sufficient number of suitable candidates, on a rotating basis, possessing the subjective and objective prerequisites.
