Standstill Period
The mandatory 10-day waiting period between an award decision and contract signing; allows unsuccessful bidders to challenge.
Definition
The Standstill Period is the mandatory waiting period between a contracting authority notifying tenderers of its award decision and signing the contract. It is the same period as the Alcatel Period, named after a 1999 European Court of Justice case. The minimum standstill is 10 calendar days when notice is sent electronically and 15 days for postal notification. It allows unsuccessful bidders to challenge the decision before the contract becomes legally binding.
How it works in practice
The standstill clock starts the day after the award notice is sent. The notice must contain enough information for unsuccessful bidders to decide whether to challenge: the winning bidder name, the award rationale, the unsuccessful bidder's scores against each evaluation criterion, and (where relevant) the winning bidder's scores. A bare notice without scoring detail is not compliant and re-starts the standstill if reissued with proper detail. Filing a procurement challenge in the High Court during the standstill triggers an automatic suspension: the contracting authority cannot sign the contract until the court resolves the suspension. The authority can apply to lift the suspension but must persuade the court that the public interest in signing outweighs the prejudice to the challenger. Standstill applies to most contracts subject to PCR 2015 / PA 2023. The Procurement Act 2023 permits the standstill to be skipped in very limited circumstances such as extreme urgency. Successful bidders typically use the standstill window for mobilisation preparation: TUPE consultation, key staff confirmations, final pricing checks, and transition planning, so they can hit the ground running once the contract is signed.
Common questions
What is the difference between standstill period and Alcatel period?
They are the same thing. "Alcatel period" is the historical name after the 1999 European Court of Justice case (Alcatel Austria v Bundesministerium). "Standstill period" is the more current UK term and is used by Cabinet Office and the Procurement Act 2023.
Can the standstill be extended?
Yes, voluntarily by the authority. Some authorities extend to 14 or 21 days when they want extra time to handle clarification requests from unsuccessful bidders. Cannot be shortened below the statutory minimum except where PA 2023 permits a standstill exemption.
What happens if I challenge during standstill?
An automatic suspension is triggered. The authority cannot sign the contract until the court resolves the challenge or grants permission to proceed. The authority can apply to lift the suspension but must persuade the court that the public interest in signing outweighs the prejudice to the challenger; cases are heard quickly (typically within weeks).