Part 8: Information and notices: general provision Section 96: Electronic communications
Subsection (1) requires contracting authorities to, so far as is practicable, communicate with suppliers electronically and take steps to ensure that suppliers participating in a covered procurement communicate electronically.
	Subsection (2) requires that electronic communication systems used or required by a contracting authority must be free of charge; readily accessible to suppliers; generally available or interoperable with other systems; and accessible to people with disabilities.
	Subsection (3) sets out an exception to the requirement for electronic communications systems to be free of charge and readily accessible to suppliers in (2)(a), for when these systems are used after an award of a public contract or in relation to a utilities dynamic market (defined at section 35 - dynamic market: establishment).
	Subsection (4) sets out that section 96 does not apply if the contracting authority considers it poses a security risk in the circumstances.
	Subsection (5) sets out the definition of "electronic communication system" which for these purposes includes any electronic systems used for the purpose of communication.