Intention to Award

An Intention to Award notice is the buyer's formal communication to all participating bidders that it intends to award a contract to a specified supplier, along with the reason for the selection. It is the trigger for the standstill period and the window within which unsuccessful bidders can file a challenge.

What is Intention to Award?

In EU public procurement and many other frameworks influenced by EU rules, the Intention to Award (sometimes called an alcatel notice or standstill notice) must be sent to all bidders before the contract is signed. The notice identifies the proposed awardee, gives an indication of the reasons for the decision, and specifies the start and end date of the standstill-period during which the contract cannot be signed. This creates a structured window for unsuccessful bidders to assess whether the decision was made correctly and, if they believe it was not, to file a bid-protest-complaint before the contract becomes binding.

The Intention to Award is distinct from the contract-award-notice: the intention notice precedes the contract and the standstill; the award notice follows the signed contract and closes the public record. MDB procurement frameworks use parallel mechanisms: the award-recommendation is reviewed by the bank, and unsuccessful bidders are typically notified of their result and given the opportunity to request a debriefing before award is finalised.

Why Intention to Award matters for bidders

When you receive an Intention to Award notice and you are not the selected supplier, you have a limited and fixed window to act. Read the stated reasons for the decision carefully. If you believe the evaluation was conducted incorrectly, applied the wrong criteria, or disregarded a non-compliant aspect of the winning bid, the standstill period is the time to seek a debriefing, gather evidence, and file a challenge if warranted. After the standstill ends and the contract is signed, challenging the award becomes significantly harder and the relief available is more limited.

FAQ

How long does the Intention to Award notice give me to challenge?

In EU procurement, the standstill period is typically 10 calendar days for electronic communications or 15 days for other means, running from the day after the notice is sent. Specific MDB frameworks set their own timeframes, which are stated in the bidding documents.

Is the Intention to Award the same as the award itself?

No. The Intention to Award is a pre-contractual notice. The contract is not formed until after the standstill period expires without a successful challenge, or after a challenge is resolved in the buyer's favour, and the contract is formally signed.

Does every procurement system use an Intention to Award notice?

No. EU-regulated procurement requires it above thresholds. MDB frameworks have broadly equivalent mechanisms through their review and notification requirements, but the specific form varies. Below-threshold and direct contracting procedures may dispense with the notice entirely.