Public procurement contracts are awarded by users of public funds for the purchase of services, supplies or civil engineering works.
A public contract may originate from a European institution, such as the Commission, the Parliament, the Council, the European Court of Justice, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Central Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Committee of the Regions, etc., but also from ministries, local authorities, national or regional agencies.
Every day, several hundred calls for tenders are published by these bodies in Europe for the purchase of supplies, works and services. At the level of the European Union, this represents several hundred billion euros. How can you select the calls for tenders that concern your activity and how can you maximise your chances of winning a contract?
Beci and Enterprise Europe Brussels draw the attention of Brussels-based companies to the business opportunities represented by these public procurement markets and provide advice on how to select them based on different criteria.
Interest for SME’s
As a general rule, calls for tenders for public procurement contracts subject to EU rules must be published in the online version of the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union – the Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) portal. Public authorities may also decide to publish notices on the TED portal in the case of a low-value contract. Basic information on calls for tenders is available on this portal in all official EU languages.
The thresholds that determine the application of EU rules depend on the subject of the purchase and on the purchaser.
The main thresholds are as follows:
· EUR 143,000 for most types of services and supplies purchased by public authorities.
· EUR 5,538,000 for construction contracts.
For lower-value calls for tenders not covered by EU rules, the public authority launching the tender generally publishes it only on national public procurement portals. If you wish to participate in these calls for tenders, you will need to regularly consult the portals of the countries that interest you. You can also sign up to receive alerts.
Enterprise Europe Network has developed a list of national public procurement portals in Europe. This list can be obtained from Beci.
If your company, organisation or institution is established in the EU, you have the right to participate in a public call for tenders in any EU country. You also have the right to participate in a public call for tenders in another EU country without being subject to discrimination.
Here are some practical tips to maximise your chances of winning a public procurement contract in Europe:
1. Identify opportunities by selecting contract notices
The TED – Tenders Electronic Daily platform allows calls for tenders to be selected based on selection criteria relating to contracting authorities (contracting bodies), countries, and the sectors or products concerned.
2. Prepare yourself by drawing up a checklist and a strict reverse timetable, allowing a small margin before the deadline for submitting tenders. Any tender submitted after the deadline date and time will not be taken into account.
3. Read the specifications carefully (TOR – Terms of Reference) and request clarifications if necessary.
4. Determine what the evaluators are looking for. Read the tender evaluation criteria carefully.
5. Form a consortium with a partner if they can add value to your tender, for example through knowledge of the local market, or in relation to a skill, a technique, or an element of the specifications that you do not sufficiently master.
6. Gather the required documents (e.g. audited accounts, statutes, etc.).
7. Entrust the drafting of the tender to an expert, either internally or through collaboration with an external consultant.
8. Respond only to the specifications / terms of reference. Avoid adding elements that are not requested.
9. Highlight your strengths, expertise and relevant experience in relation to what is requested in the call for tenders.
10. Check and proofread your proposal.
Consultation on the revision of EU public procurement rules
The European Commission has launched a short survey aimed at SMEs in order to gather their views on the upcoming revision of EU public procurement rules.
The survey is open until 15 February and can be consulted here.
Your experience matters! Public procurement rules have a direct impact on the ability of SMEs to access public procurement markets, to compete fairly and to grow across the EU. This consultation offers SMEs a concrete opportunity to share practical information drawn from their day-to-day experience and to contribute to the development of rules that better support SME participation in public procurement.
The revision of the rules (Directive 2014/23/EU on concessions, Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement, and Directive 2014/25/EU on utilities) should benefit companies, including SMEs, by reducing the administrative burden, improving legal clarity and helping them to reduce costs. Simplified procedures and increased transparency should facilitate access to public procurement in the single market.
This consultation is aimed at SMEs, in particular those that:
- Actively participate in public procurement, either directly or as subcontractors,
- Have prior experience in the field of public procurement, but do not currently participate.
Why is this consultation important?
EU public authorities spend around 15% of GDP each year on public procurement, covering key sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare and education. EU public procurement rules apply to a quarter of this spending, representing around EUR 616 billion per year.
However, further improvements are possible. Through this survey, the Commission seeks feedback on how SME participation in public procurement can be further increased and how possible policy changes could impact SMEs.
To ensure that the voice of SMEs is heard, Beci and Enterprise Europe Brussels strongly encourage SMEs to participate in this consultation and help shape future EU public procurement rules. Link to the survey.
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Enterprise Europe Brussels helps interested Brussels-based companies to use the TED platform by selecting selection criteria relating to contracting authorities (contracting bodies), countries, and the sectors or products concerned. A personalised search profile is established for the company based on its selection criteria on TED, enabling it to receive targeted calls for tenders of interest by email. The company also benefits from practical advice to optimise its chances of winning a contract.
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As the Enterprise Europe Network contact point for Brussels-based companies, Beci and its Enterprise Europe Brussels experts help companies develop their activities within the European single market and fully benefit from its advantages. Contact Beci – Enterprise Europe Brussels for any information or advice.
