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UK supplier guide

Standstill period:
the 8 working days after award

The standstill period is the pause between a buyer publishing its contract award notice and signing the contract. Under the Procurement Act 2023 it is at least eight working days, and it is the window in which an unsuccessful bidder can act before the contract exists.

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Checked against primary sources4 sources linked below

  1. Assessment summaries

    This guide’s primary sources

  2. Contract award notice

    This guide’s primary sources

  3. Standstill runs

    This guide’s primary sources

  4. Challenge window

    This guide’s primary sources

  1. Eight working days

    From the day the contract award notice is published.

    This guide’s primary sources

  2. Six exceptions

    Frameworks, dynamic markets, light touch and some direct awards.

    This guide’s primary sources

  3. Automatic suspension

    Proceedings started and notified in standstill stop the signature.

    This guide’s primary sources

How long is the standstill period?

Eight working days, beginning with the day the contract award notice is published, or longer if the notice says so.

A contracting authority may not enter into a public contract before the end of the mandatory standstill period or, if later, another standstill period set in the contract award notice (s.51(1)).

The mandatory period is “eight working days beginning with the day on which a contract award notice is published” (s.51(2)).

  1. Each assessed bidder receives one before the award notice.

    s.50(3)

  2. UK6 on Find a Tender; publication starts the clock.

    Find a Tender

  3. The minimum; the notice can set a longer one.

    s.51(1)–(2)

  4. May be entered into only after the standstill ends.

    s.51(1)

Which contracts have no mandatory standstill?

Six kinds, listed in section 51(3); a buyer can still choose a voluntary standstill of at least eight working days.

No mandatory standstill forSection 51(3)
Direct award for extreme and unavoidable urgency(a)
Direct award to protect life, by regulations under section 42(b)
Direct award or switch to direct award by a private utility(c)
A contract awarded in accordance with a framework(d)
A contract awarded by reference to a dynamic market(e)
A light touch contract(f)
Procurement Act 2023, s.51(3)–(5), read 25 October 2026. If the award notice for one of these sets a voluntary standstill, the contract cannot be signed before it ends, and it cannot be shorter than eight working days.

What happens between award and contract?

Assessment summaries, the award notice, then at least eight working days.

  1. Start with the source01

    Assessment summaries

    Every assessed bidder receives one first.
  2. Define the scope02

    Contract award notice

    Published on Find a Tender; the clock starts that day.
  3. Read the evidence03

    Standstill runs

    At least eight working days, longer if the notice says so.
  4. Make the decision04

    Challenge window

    Proceedings notified in time stop the signature.
  5. Name the next action05

    Contract signed

    Then a contract details notice within 30 days.

A supplier’s review sequence, based on the primary sources below. It is not a measured outcome or a prescribed buyer timetable.

What can a losing bidder do during standstill?

Read the assessment summary, then, if there are grounds, start proceedings and notify the buyer before the standstill ends.

  1. Before you start01

    Use the current documents

    Check the primary publication and later changes before using the sequence below.
  2. Check 202

    Read the assessment summary

    It covers your tender and, if different, the most advantageous tender (s.50(4)). See tender evaluation for how scores are reached.
  3. Check 303

    Raise questions with the buyer

    Ask for any clarification in writing early: the period is the one set in the award notice.
  4. Check 404

    Start proceedings and notify the buyer

    If proceedings start during the standstill and the buyer is notified, it may not enter into the contract: the automatic suspension (s.101(1)).
  5. Follow through05

    Mind the 30-day limit

    Most claims must start within 30 days of when you knew or ought to have known of the grounds (s.106(2)).

An editorial order of work, not a buyer's fixed timetable. The current notice and documents determine participation and submission.

Can the court lift the automatic suspension?

Yes. The court can lift, modify or extend it, weighing the public interest and whether damages would be enough.

The court may lift or modify the restriction, extend it, or suspend the procurement or the contract (s.102(1)).

It must have regard to the public interest in lawful awards and in avoiding delay, and to suppliers’ interests, including whether damages are an adequate remedy (s.102(2)). No order can let the contract be signed before the standstill ends (s.102(3)).

  1. The buyer may then sign.

    s.102(1)(a)

  2. The suspension carries on.

    s.102(1)(b)

  3. The procurement or the contract itself.

    s.102(1)(d)–(e)

  4. Lawful awards against delay to services.

    s.102(2)

How many contract award notices start a standstill?

In our corpus, 4,694 Procurement Act records in the year to 30 September 2026 had a contract award notice as their latest notice.

Procurement Act records, 1 Oct 2025 to 30 Sep 2026Records
Latest notice a UK6 contract award notice4,694
Latest notice a UK5 transparency notice (direct award)2,713
Latest notice a UK12 procurement termination notice889
September 2026: UK6 contract award notices754
RFP Quest corpus: Find a Tender records with legal basis 2023/54 by the type of their latest notice, queried 25 October 2026. Records whose award notice was followed by a contract details notice count under UK7 instead, so these figures undercount award notices published. Not every award notice starts a mandatory standstill (see the exceptions above).

Diary the eighth working day from the award notice the moment it is published.

  1. Eight working days

    From the day the contract award notice is published.

  2. Six exceptions

    Frameworks, dynamic markets, light touch and some direct awards.

  3. Automatic suspension

    Proceedings started and notified in standstill stop the signature.
Search UK tenders →

Free: tender and award notices from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, with links to the originals.

What else should you know about standstill period?

Check these points before committing your team’s time.

How long is the standstill period under the Procurement Act 2023?
At least eight working days, beginning with the day the contract award notice is published (s.51(2)). The notice can set a longer period.
Does a framework call-off have a standstill period?
Not a mandatory one: contracts awarded in accordance with a framework are excepted (s.51(3)(d)). The buyer can set a voluntary standstill in the award notice, of at least eight working days.
What is the standstill period under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015?
Procurements started under the old regulations keep their own rules. See the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for which regime a tender is under.
Is there a standstill under the Provider Selection Regime?
Yes: health care services awarded under the PSR have a standstill of at least eight working days after the notice of intention. See the Provider Selection Regime.
What happens if a supplier challenges during standstill?
If proceedings start during the standstill and the buyer is notified, the buyer may not enter into the contract until the court lifts the restriction or the proceedings end (s.101).
What does the assessment summary contain?
Information about the buyer's assessment of your tender and, if different, of the most advantageous tender (s.50(4)). Each assessed bidder gets one before the award notice.

Where can you check the evidence?

Read the primary publication and the buyer’s current documents before acting.

SourceWhat it supports
Procurement Act 2023, section 51 · legislation.gov.uk ↗Standstill periods; read 25 October 2026.
Procurement Act 2023, section 50 · legislation.gov.uk ↗Contract award notices and assessment summaries.
Procurement Act 2023, sections 101, 102 and 106 · legislation.gov.uk ↗Automatic suspension, interim remedies, time limits.
Notice types and sequences · Find a Tender ↗UK6 starts the standstill.
Follow the current primary publication for its scope and any later changes. Calculators use your inputs, not measured savings.

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