(a)paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be replaced by the following:‘2.All such contracts for which the estimated value equals or exceeds the thresholds set out in Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contractsnote shall be concluded in accordance with the provisions of that Directive (hereinafter the ‘Directive on public procurement’).3.Contracts for which the estimated value of the contract in question does not exceed the thresholds set out in the Directive on public procurement may be made by private treaty. In such cases, the Member States referred to in Article 25 shall none the less be bound, 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.