A notice (often referred to as an OJEU advertisement or a contract notice) placed in the OJEU (www.practicallaw.com/7-385-1433) advertising, to the European public at large, a contracting authority’s intention to let a contract. Publishing an OJEU notice is compulsory for procurements regulated by the Public Sector Procurement Directive (www.practicallaw.com/8-385-1357). Contracting authorities may also publish OJEU notices in respect of procurements that are not regulated but this is optional.