Article 24

1. Contracting entities which so wish may establish and operate a system of qualification of suppliers or contractors. 2. The system, which may involve different qualification stages, shall operate on the basis of objective rules and criteria to be established by the contracting entity. The contracting entity shall use European standards as a reference where they are appropriate. The rules and criteria may be updated as required. 3. The rules and criteria for qualification shall be made available on request to interested suppliers or contractors. The updating of these criteria and rules shall be communicated to the interested suppliers and contractors. Where a contracting entity considers that the qualification or certification system of certain third entities or bodies meet its requirements, it shall communicate to interested suppliers and contractors the names of such third entities or bodies. 4. Contracting entities shall inform applicants of their decision as to qualification within a reasonable period. If the decision will take longer than six months from the presentation of an application, the contracting entity shall inform the applicant, within two months of the application, of the reasons justifying a longer period and of the date by which its application will be accepted or refused. 5. In reaching their decision as to qualification or when the criteria and rules are being updated, contracting entities may not: -impose conditions of an administrative, technical or financial nature on some suppliers or contractors that are not imposed on others, -require tests or proof that duplicate objective evidence already available. ENGMS 47-61theo14-17Thomas 6. Applicants whose qualification is refused shall be informed of this decision and the reasons for refusal. The reasons must be based on the criteria for qualification referred to in paragraph 2. 7. A written record of qualified suppliers or contractors shall be kept, and it may be divided into categories according to the type of contract for which the qualification is valid. 8. Contracting entities may bring the qualification of a supplier or contractor to an end only for reasons based on the criteria referred to in paragraph 2. The intention to bring qualification to an end must be notified in writing to the supplier or contractor beforehand, together with the reason or reasons justifying the proposed action. 9. The qualification system shall be the subject of a notice drawn up in accordance with Annex XIII and published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, indicating the purpose of the qualification system and the availability of the rules concerning its operation. Where the system is of a duration greater than three years, the notice shall be published annually. Where the system is of a shorter duration, an initial notice shall suffice.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-31 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.