1. Contracts may be made by private treaty: (a) where the contract for the purchase or hiring of goods, for the provision of services or for building works involves an amount not exceeding 6 500 European units of account, the Institution concerned being bound, however, as far as possible and by all appropriate means, to enable suppliers who are likely to be able to supply the goods and services in question to compete; (b) where the purchase or hiring of goods, the provision of services or the construction works are so urgently needed that it is not possible to wait for one of the tendering procedures specified in Article 51 to be carried out; (c) where the automatic public tendering or discretionary tendering procedures do not give any result or where the prices quoted are not acceptable; (d) where for technical, practical or legal reasons the supply of goods or services can only be carried out by a particular contractor or supplier; (e) for contracts for the supply of goods and services or for ancillary works which, technically, cannot be separated from the main contract.
2. Notwithstanding Article 52 (a), a contract for scientific and technical supplies and for works may be made by private treaty where the amount does not exceed 30 000 European units of account, without prejudice to those cases where private treaties are allowed under Article 52 (b), (c) and (d) and subject to the general obligation to invite competitive tenders, as far as possible and by all suitable means, from those capable of supplying the goods and services required by the contract.
