8. As noted in The PQQ Guidance, a notice advertising the project will have been placed in the MOD Contracts Bulletin or OJEU. Where a project is advertised will depend on whether or not the project is exempt from full application of EU regulations. If the contract in question is subject to the EU regulations it will be advertised in the OJEU. This does not prevent the contract also being advertised in the MOD Contracts Bulletin should the project team wish to publicise the opportunity to the widest possible audience.
9. Potential tenderers must be allowed a period of time from the date of dispatch of the project advertisement to inform MOD of their interest in the project. EU public procurement regulations require that this period is at least 37 days (this can be reduced to 15 days in urgent cases - project teams considering the use of an urgent procedure MUST seek the advice of MOD's internal legal advisers as to whether it is justifiable). Whilst no such minimum time period applies to a project which does not fall within the EU public procurement regulations, it is best practice to allow the same minimum 37 day period.
Note: Different timescales apply to projects following an 'open' procedure under the EU public procurement regulations; this is extremely rare in PFI projects and projects considering this procedure MUST consult the MOD PFU.
10. There is no minimum period which must be allowed to potential tenderers to respond to the PQQ. As noted in The PQQ Guidance, best practice is that a minimum of 30 days from the date of issue of the PQQ be allowed. In complex procurement such as PFI projects, a longer period may be suitable.
11. Whether an industry briefing day is held before or after the PQQ is issued is a question of judgement for the acquisition team. As a minimum, the acquisition team should have considered the relevant issues and prepared a draft PQQ before the briefing. In order to ensure control over distribution it is preferable for the PQQ not to be handed out at the industry day but for it to be posted separately. If however the PQQ is issued at the industry day, a signature must be obtained from industry representatives to record that they have received the PQQ.