A Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice is a form of contract award notice which was introduced in December 2009. It was only during the last quarter of 2010 that Local Authorities started to understand the advantages of the notices and started to issue "letters of intent" rather than contract award notices.

There are significant advantages for public sector purchasers in publishing VEAT Notices. These are integral with the Remedies Directive, also implemented in December 2009. The publication of a VEAT notice requires challenge, if any, must be made within the 10 day (in some circumstances 15 day) standstill period following the announcement of “intention to award a contract”. If no challenge is made to the decision of the purchaser within in these prescribed circumstances, then no later challenge can be made which could have the effect of the contract award being declared ineffective by the Courts, and as a result rescinded [or annulled]. Please note that the days quoted are calendar days not working days, therefore weekends and public holidays are included in the day count. For these purposes a “day”starts and ends at midnight, not at the end of the working day. 

Complicated??

Please read the TfC leaflet which can be downloaded from the bottom of the page for a fuller explanation.

The TfC VEAT Notice Service is an essential tool for all Health and Social Care providers who are serious about securing public sector contracts.