01 February 2006 | Rebecca Ellinor

The Office of Government Commerce has published guidance on the new European directives covering public sector and utilities procurement.

The directives, which were implemented in the UK from yesterday, seek to simplify, clarify and update the previous EU rules.

Notes covering new issues in the directives - including framework agreements, reserved contracts for supported businesses and factories, dynamic purchasing systems, mandatory exclusion of economic operators, central purchasing bodies, electronic auctions and competitive dialogue procedure - can now be found on the OGC's website.

Visit www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?docid=1004559 for more information.

* A detailed analysis of the directives will be featured on the law page in the 16 February issue of SM

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