Regulation 6 Stages of a tender exerciseI1

a qualification stage in order to determine which bidders shall become qualifying bidders and be invited to participate in a proposal stage;

a proposal stage in order to determine which qualifying bidders shall be selected to become preferred applicants or reserve applicants;

if the competent authority considers that it is unable to determine a preferred applicant after the proposal stage or that it is otherwise necessary or appropriate in the circumstances, a best and final offer stage; and

a preferred applicant stage in order to determine the successful applicant to whom the electricity smart meter communication licence and the gas smart meter communication licence are to be granted.