In its letter of formal notice, the Commission reminded the United Kingdom Government that unlike the Directive concerning the utilities sectors, the Services Directive does not allow for such "framework arrangements" and requires that the contracting authority applies the relevant procurement rules for each specific contract as and when it is let. Therefore, the procedure whereby only a "framework arrangement" for the services in question is awarded through a call for competition in the Official Journal is in breach of Directive 92/50/EEC.
In its letter of formal notice, the Commission reminded the United Kingdom Government that unlike the Directive concerning the utilities sectors, the Services Directive does not allow for such "framework arrangements" and requires the contracting authority to apply the relevant procurement rules for each specific contract as and when it is let. Therefore, the procedure whereby only a "framework arrangement" for the services in question is awarded through a call for competition in the Official Journal is in breach of Directive 92/50/EEC.