Standstill Period (Alcatel)

The standstill period — commonly called the 'Alcatel' period after a European Court of Justice ruling in the Alcatel Austria case — is a legally required pause between the authority notifying bidders of its intention to award and the moment the contract is actually signed. EU procurement law requires a minimum standstill of 10 calendar days (15 if notification is not electronic) for above-threshold contracts.

During the standstill period, unsuccessful tenderers can review their debrief, seek additional information, and if necessary apply to the courts for an interim suspension of the award. This is the primary practical remedy mechanism in EU procurement: once a contract is signed, remedies are much more limited (typically damages rather than setting aside). Contracting authorities must not sign the contract until the standstill period has expired without a challenge being filed, or a court has discharged any interim order.

For vendors who believe they have been unlawfully excluded or that the award is flawed, the standstill period is the critical action window. Legal advice must be obtained quickly: court applications for interim relief typically need to be filed within days of the period opening. For winning vendors, the standstill period delays contract mobilization — financial and resource planning must account for this.