The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has updated its webpage on bond consolidated tape (CT) confirming that the tender documents for the process to appoint a bond CT provider (CTP) will be published by 7 March, instead of the original proposed date of 31 January. Given this revised publication date, the FCA will conduct the procurement of a bond CTP under the Procurement Act 2023, and the tender will follow the two-stage process as described in CP23/33 on the CT framework for bonds. The tender documents will be published on the FCA's procurement portal and will contain details of: (i) the award process; (ii) the licences the successful bidder will need to provide; and (iii) how to participate in the tender and the information firms have to submit to the FCA as part of the application process. The FCA will publish a draft contract between the CTP and the FCA. Potential bidders will need to register on the FCA's procurement portal to access the relevant documentation.
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