The lighting sector impacted by a series of unpredictable economic events

The Prime Minister has just published on March 30, 2022 a Circular relating to the execution of public procurement contracts in the current context of rising prices for certain raw materials ⁽¹⁾.

This circular insists on the unpredictability of the current economic environment; it aims to raise public buyers' awareness of the difficult context that companies are going through, and to ensure that they accede to requests for the adjustment of contracts so as not to endanger their sustainability, their jobs, the public service.

It specifies how to apply the theory of hardship to administrative contracts. The freezing of contractual penalties in the execution of contracts, and the insertion of a price review clause in all future contracts are also part of the important recommendations of this circular, which concludes on the extension of hardship. to private contracts.

In a recent communication, Le Syndicat de l'Eclairage warned of the consequences of these supply difficulties on lead times and prices. This context of tensions continues with no prospect of improvement in 2022. The application of the syndicate's price revision formula model at the end of February shows an increase of 3 to 5% since December 2021.

Most manufacturers, particularly affected by this inflation, must adopt a more frequent rate of review of their prices than in the past. The same is true for the period of validity of price offers, which tends to be considerably shorter. It is indeed not sustainable for companies in our sector to commit beyond a very short term.

Faced with the exceptional circumstances that we have to face, the profession calls on the entire sector to make efforts of understanding and solidarity.

⁽¹⁾ After the Circular of the Prime Minister of July 16, 2021 relating to the adjustment of the conditions for the execution of State public contracts in the face of supply difficulties, after the Technical sheet of the Bercy Legal Affairs Department, on the markets public faced with soaring prices and the risk of shortage of raw materials, updated on February 18, 2022.

See also on the same subject a collection of useful recommendations for all players in the building industry, published by the French Building Federation. »