Art. 123. Choice of the procedure

1. When awarding supply, works or service contracts, contracting entities shall use open, restricted or negotiated procedures preceded by a call for tenders in accordance with the provisions of this section. Contracting entities may also use competitive dialogues and innovation partnerships in accordance with the provisions of this section.

2. Without prejudice to the provisions of article 122, the awarding procedures referred to in this chapter are preceded by the publication of a notice of call for tenders in the manner and in compliance with the terms established by this code.

3. The call for competition may be made by one of the following means:

a) a periodic indicative notice pursuant to Article 127 where the contract is awarded by restricted procedure or negotiated procedure;

b) a notice on the existence of a qualification system pursuant to Article 134 where the contract is awarded by restricted procedure or negotiated procedure or by a competitive dialogue or an innovation partnership;

c) by means of a contract notice pursuant to Article 129.

4. In the case referred to in paragraph 3, letter a), economic operators having expressed their interest following the publication of the periodic indicative notice shall subsequently be invited to confirm their interest in conformity with Article 131.