[Justification]:
The subject matter of this framework agreement comprises ‘Hospital Services’ for the purposes of the procurement regulations. Consequently, this competition is governed solely by Title III of Directive 2014/24/EU. On this basis, the Contracting Authority is availing of shortened timescales in order to establish these framework agreements. Moreover, the Contracting Authority reserves the right, at its discretion, to negotiate the terms of submitted tenders and to negotiate the award of contracts under this framework agreement with the successful framework members.