EU Procurement Advice

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About EC Procurement Legislation…But Were Afraid to Ask!

LUPC has taken the fear out of those tricky EC questions by providing two authoritative and easy to use services via Achilles Information Ltd, one of the UK’s leading experts in EC procurement advice. 

To ensure you are fully aware of the implications of the EC procurement legislation and remain up-to-date with changes to legislation, the latest guidance from the government or the European Commission, or the most recent Court cases, you can use Achilles’ EC system, THEMiS – the system for regulated procurement. Court cases are summarised by Professor Sue Arrowsmith, professor of law at Nottingham University, and an “Ask Achilles” function allows you to ask EC questions online. THEMiS also includes all OJEU notices which can be sent electronically, giving contracting authorities timescale discounts.

LUPC has negotiated a special rate on this user-friendly internet based system (representing a saving of 48% on the standard subscription). The normal cost of THEMiS is £800 per user, but LUPC members pay as little as £450, with additional user licences priced at £300 per organisation.  Contact Laura Taylor on 01235 838046 or laura.c.taylor@achilles.com for further details of how to join.

Free Achilles EU Procurement Support Service

If you have a particular EC problem with the status of a procurement strategy or project under the legislation you can also get prompt advice from Achilles.  Achilles has a team dedicated to EC with experts in this field.  THEMiS is edited by this team. Members of the team have experience of advising on the interface between good commercial practice and the EC procurement regime. LUPC has made arrangements for Achilles expertise to be available to you under a central advice contract. This service, which would normally be charged at a consultancy fee, is included in the normal LUPC membership fee, please mention LUPC when calling.  

• For speed of response, queries should be raised through THEMiS "Ask Achilles" function. As part of the agreement LUPC members who subscribe to THEMiS have an accelerated response time of 7 hours. If you do not subscribe, Achilles will still answer you EC question, however the within 48 hours.
• Where the query cannot be resolved in 30 minutes (in Achilles experience, most queries can be resolved on this basis) this would be indicated to the user immediately, and he would be prepared to carry out consultancy work for which the rate would be £200/hour plus VAT (normal rate is £250/hour)
• Responses would normally be by email or fax (unless the customer wishes verbal response)

To contact the EC Team call 01235 838115 or email themis@achilles.com, please mention the LUPC Agreement when calling.