Comparison of EU tender and basic procedure
Which procedure is right for me?
Many suppliers do not know the difference between open tender and the basic procedure. Both procedures are used when awarding public contracts, but they differ in requirements and procedure. Below you will find the most important differences, clearly, simply, and based on regulations.
Step-by-step comparison
| Step | National procedure | Union procedure |
|---|---|---|
| Needs analysis | No obligation for needs analysis (Art. 83 of the PZP) | Mandatory needs analysis (Art. 83 of the PZP) |
| Documentation | Tender specifications (SWZ), but in the Union procedure, the document must comply with Art. 134 sec. 1 of the PZP, and in the national procedure, with Art. 281 sec. 1 of the PZP | Tender specifications (SWZ), but in the Union procedure, the document must comply with Art. 134 sec. 1 of the PZP, and in the national procedure, with Art. 281 sec. 1 of the PZP |
| Tender committee | Not required (Art. 53 sec. 2 of the PZP) | Mandatory (Art. 53 sec. 1 of the PZP) |
| Contract notice | Public Procurement Bulletin (Art. 267-272 of the PZP) | Official Journal of the EU (Art. 86-90 of the PZP) |
| Minimum deadline for submitting bids | 7 days (delivery/service), 14 days (construction works), Art. 283 of the PZP | At least 35 days (or min. 30 if entirely electronic), possible reduction to 15 days (Art. 138 of the PZP) |
| Bid security | Max 1.5% of the contract value (Art. 299 sec. 3 of the PZP) | Max 3% (Art. 97 sec. 2 of the PZP) |
| Reverse model | Not allowed | Possible (Art. 139 of the PZP) |
| Supplier verification | Optional verification based on evidence (Art. 273 of the PZP) | Mandatory verification of lack of exclusion grounds (Art. 124 of the PZP) |
| Contract conclusion deadline | No earlier than 5 or 10 days after the selection of the bid (Art. 308 of the PZP) | No earlier than 10 or 15 days (Art. 264 of the PZP) |
| Contract award notice | In the BZP (Art. 309 of the PZP) | In the Official Journal of the EU (Art. 265 of the PZP) |
Conclusions
If you are bidding in a national tender, you can count on a faster procedure, fewer formalities and shorter deadlines. In an EU procedure the requirements are higher, but the stakes are often greater. It is worth knowing the differences to plan actions and documents well.
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