Notices for design contests under Reg. 79 Public Contracts Regulations 2015

Reg.79 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR2015) transposes Art 79 of Directive 2014/24 regarding transparency obligations through notices connected to design contests. The rules fundamentally repeat the general obligations on the publication of notices, as well as the general possibility for contracting authorities to withhold information which disclosure would impede law enforcement, would be contrary to the public interest or would prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of a particular enterprise, whether public or private, or might prejudice fair competition between service providers. In my view, the provision does not deserve much comment.