Contracting authority
Short definition
A contracting authority is a body that must follow the Public Contracts Code when it enters into contracts, such as the State, local authorities, public institutes and bodies governed by public law.
In plain language
It includes NHS hospitals and local health units (ULS) and municipal councils. A private body can also be one: an IPSS or Misericórdia is a contracting authority when more than half of its revenue comes from public funding (Article 2(2)(a) of the Code), which is checked year by year in the institution's accounts. Private care homes, clinics and hospitals without such funding contract freely.