The purchaser may award a works or service contract without prior advertising or competitive tendering for the purpose of providing services similar to those entrusted to the holder of a previous contract awarded after competitive tendering. The first contract must have indicated the possibility of using this procedure to carry out similar services. The call for competition must also have taken into account the total amount envisaged, including that of the new works or services.
When such a contract is awarded by a contracting authority, the period during which new contracts may be concluded may not exceed three years from the notification of the initial contract.