Standstill Period Calculator
Calculate contract award dates for UK public procurement
Standstill Period Results
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Standstill ends:
Contract can be awarded from:
What Is a Standstill Period?
The standstill period is a mandatory pause between notifying bidders of a contract award decision and formally entering into the contract. This period exists within UK public procurement law to protect the rights of unsuccessful bidders by giving them time to review the award decision, request feedback, and potentially challenge the outcome before the contract becomes binding.
The standstill period serves as a critical safeguard in the procurement process, promoting transparency and fairness. During this time, contracting authorities cannot sign the contract with the winning bidder, regardless of commercial pressures or operational urgency. Failure to observe the correct standstill period can have serious legal consequences, including potential contract suspension or damages claims.
Procurement Act 2023 vs PCR 2015
The UK procurement landscape changed significantly on 24 February 2025 with the full implementation of the Procurement Act 2023. This new legislation replaced the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) and introduced important modifications to how standstill periods are calculated.
| Aspect | PCR 2015 | Procurement Act 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Period Length | 10 calendar days (electronic) or 15 days from sending / 10 from receipt (post) | 8 working days |
| Start Date | Day after notification sent (electronic) or from sending/receipt (post) | Day of publication |
| Day Type | Calendar days (includes weekends and bank holidays) | Working days (excludes weekends and all UK bank holidays) |
| Bank Holiday Treatment | Counted in the period | Excluded from calculation |
| Applies To | Procurements started before 24 February 2025 | Procurements started on or after 24 February 2025 |
Procurement Act 2023 Changes
The shift to 8 working days under the Procurement Act 2023 represents a fundamental change in calculation methodology. Whilst the new system might appear shorter on paper, it often results in similar or longer actual periods because weekends and bank holidays are excluded. This change was introduced to prevent the standstill period from being artificially shortened when notifications coincide with public holidays.
Contracting authorities must factor in bank holidays from all four UK nations—England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland—when calculating working days. This means a notification published just before a bank holiday period will result in a significantly longer standstill period than one published during a standard working week.
How to Calculate Standstill Periods
Procurement Act 2023 Calculation
For procurements governed by the Procurement Act 2023, the calculation follows these steps:
- Identify the publication date of the contract award notice—this is Day 1 of the standstill period
- Count forward 8 working days, excluding all weekends (Saturdays and Sundays)
- Exclude any bank holidays occurring in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland during this period
- The contract can be entered into from working day 9 onwards
PCR 2015 Calculation
For procurements started before 24 February 2025 and still governed by PCR 2015, the calculation depends on the notification method:
- Electronic notification: The standstill period is 10 calendar days starting from the day after the notice was sent. Weekends and bank holidays are counted within these 10 days
- Postal notification: Either 15 calendar days from the date of sending, or 10 calendar days from the date of receipt, whichever the authority chooses
Bank Holidays and Working Days
Under the Procurement Act 2023, accurate identification of bank holidays is essential for correct standstill calculations. The definition of bank holidays includes all public holidays designated under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1977 across any part of the United Kingdom.
This creates complexity because Scotland and Northern Ireland observe different bank holidays from England and Wales. For instance, St Andrew’s Day in Scotland and St Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland are bank holidays in those nations but not in England or Wales. Despite this regional variation, contracting authorities must exclude all UK bank holidays when calculating standstill periods, regardless of where the authority is located.
Exemptions and Special Cases
Not all procurements require a mandatory standstill period. Key exemptions include:
- Below-threshold procurements that do not require OJEU/FTS advertisement
- Negotiated procedures without prior publication in cases of genuine urgency
- Direct awards where only one supplier can perform the contract
- Certain defence and security contracts where immediate operational needs exist
- Call-off contracts from established framework agreements (though voluntary standstill is recommended)
Even where a standstill period is not mandatory, many contracting authorities choose to apply a voluntary standstill period to reduce the risk of legal challenges and demonstrate procedural fairness. This is particularly common for framework call-offs and lower-value contracts.
Legal Consequences of Incorrect Standstill
Failure to implement the correct standstill period, or entering into a contract during the standstill period, can result in serious legal consequences for contracting authorities. These include:
- Automatic ineffectiveness of the contract—meaning the contract is void and unenforceable
- Financial penalties imposed by the courts
- Liability for damages to unsuccessful bidders who were denied the opportunity to challenge
- Reputational damage and scrutiny from oversight bodies
- Requirement to re-run the procurement process
Courts take breaches of standstill requirements seriously because they undermine the fundamental principles of fair competition and transparency in public procurement. Even technical breaches, where the contracting authority signs the contract one day early, have resulted in significant penalties.
Best Practices
To avoid errors and legal challenges, contracting authorities should adopt the following best practices:
- Always use a standstill calculator or maintain accurate spreadsheets that account for all UK bank holidays
- Build buffer time into procurement timetables to accommodate extended standstill periods around holidays
- Clearly communicate standstill end dates to all bidders in the contract award notice
- Resist commercial pressure to sign contracts early, even when the winning bidder is eager to commence work
- Document the standstill calculation methodology and retain evidence of compliance
- Consider applying voluntary standstill periods even when not legally required
- Seek legal advice if any uncertainty exists about whether a standstill period applies or how to calculate it correctly
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shorten the standstill period if all bidders agree?
No. The standstill period is a statutory requirement that cannot be waived by agreement between parties. Even if all unsuccessful bidders confirm they will not challenge the decision, the contracting authority must still observe the full mandatory period. The only exception is where the procurement falls within one of the specific exemptions listed in the regulations.
What happens if a bidder challenges the decision during standstill?
If a supplier issues legal proceedings challenging the award decision during the standstill period, this triggers an automatic suspension. The contracting authority cannot enter into the contract until the court lifts the suspension or the challenge is resolved. The Procurement Act 2023 includes specific provisions for handling disputes during standstill, including mandatory standstill extension in certain circumstances.
Do I need to wait for the full standstill period if there was only one bidder?
If there was genuinely only one bidder and no other candidates, the standstill period is not mandatory. However, this exemption applies only where there were no other parties who could potentially challenge the award. If other suppliers expressed interest at earlier stages or could claim they were improperly excluded, a standstill period may still be required.
Does the standstill period apply to framework agreements?
Yes, the mandatory standstill period applies when awarding the framework agreement itself. However, for call-off contracts under an existing framework, the standstill period is voluntary rather than mandatory under both PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023. Despite this, applying a standstill period for call-offs is strongly recommended to protect against potential ineffectiveness claims.
How do I know which bank holidays to exclude?
You must exclude all bank holidays across the entire United Kingdom, not just those in the nation where your contracting authority is located. The UK Government publishes official lists of bank holidays for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland on GOV.UK. Check all four calendars when calculating working days under the Procurement Act 2023.
What information must I provide in the standstill notice?
The standstill notice must include the award decision, the names of successful and unsuccessful bidders, the reasons for the decision, the standstill period end date, and information about how suppliers can request detailed feedback or challenge the decision. Under the Procurement Act 2023, this information is provided through the published contract award notice rather than individual letters.