Contracting Authorities

The term “contracting authority” is defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as “a contracting authority as defined in regulation 2(1) of the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) Regulations 2016”.

In short, a contracting authority is any public body that enters into contracts for works, supplies or services with economic operators. This includes central government departments and agencies, non-departmental public bodies, local authorities and health service bodies. The full list of bodies classed as contracting authorities can be found in regulation 2(2) of the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) Regulations 2016.