Regulations and compliance
Standstill period(Alcatel period)
Definition
A mandatory waiting period of at least 10 calendar days between the buyer announcing the contract award decision and formally entering into the contract, giving unsuccessful bidders time to challenge the decision.
The standstill period — sometimes called the Alcatel period after the court case that established it — is a legal safeguard for unsuccessful bidders. After the buyer notifies all bidders of the award decision, they must wait at least 10 calendar days (15 if notification is by post) before signing the contract with the winning supplier.
During this period, unsuccessful bidders can request a debrief to understand why they did not win, review the scoring and evaluation rationale, and if they believe the process was flawed, issue a legal challenge that can suspend the award. This is the supplier's primary window for enforcing their rights under the procurement regulations.
The standstill period applies to above-threshold procurements under the full regulations. Below-threshold procurements and call-offs from frameworks are generally exempt, though some buyers apply a voluntary standstill period as good practice.
Why it matters for bidders
The standstill period is your opportunity to learn and, if necessary, challenge. Always request a debrief during this window — even if you have no intention of challenging, the feedback on your quality scores and evaluation comments is invaluable for improving future bids.
How Skim helps
Skim tracks standstill period timings and debrief feedback from your bid history, building a pattern of your scoring performance across evaluations so you can identify which aspects of your bidding consistently need improvement.
Related terms
Award notice
A public notice confirming that a contract has been awarded, naming the winning supplier, the contract value, and the number of tenders received.
Public Contracts Regulations 2015(PCR 2015)
The primary legislation governing public procurement in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, transposing the EU Public Procurement Directive into UK law. Being progressively replaced by the Procurement Act 2023.
Quality score
The score awarded to the non-price elements of a tender response, assessed against published evaluation criteria and typically representing 60–80% of the total evaluation in quality-led procurements.