The Single Source Contract Regulations 2014
Part 2 of the Defence Reform Act 2014 (c. 20) (“the Act”) creates a regulatory framework for “single source contracts” (that is, contracts which are not subject to a legal obligation to be advertised and competed) in the defence area. The framework is intended to apply to those contracts which are not subject to regulation under EU law. EU law requires most government contracts to be procured via an open process that involves publicly advertising the fact that the contract is available for tender, and then a competitive process to select the successful contractor. There is an exemption in Article 346 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU for measures which a Member State considers necessary for the protection of the essential interests of its security which are connected with the production of or trade in arms, munitions or war materiel.