The Standstill Period provides for a short (at least a 10 calendar day) pause between the point when the contract award decision is notified to bidders, and the final contract conclusion.

For contracts with an estimated value equal to or above the higher value regulated procurement thresholds (or sometimes referred to as the GPA threshold) there is a requirement to observe a Standstill Period. For contracts worth less than the threshold, buyers may choose to observe a voluntary standstill period, but they can go ahead and award the contract without a Standstill Period.

Purpose

The purpose of the Standstill Period is to give unsuccessful bidders some time to:

• consider the feedback (Debrief) provided on their bid by the buyer
• seek further information
• call for a review of the procurement officer decision
• challenge the decision. 

If unsuccessful bidders have any concerns with regards to the contract award decision, they should be raised to the public body during this Standstill Period.

Timescales

Where it is legally required, the minimum standstill period is calculated depending on the means of communication used to transmit the standstill notice:

• at least 10 calendar days, when the notice is communicated using electronic means (e.g. fax, email) or
• at least 15 calendar days when using non-electronic means.

If a public body fails to correctly maintain a required standstill period, it can incur a financial penalty and the contract may be abandoned.