Definition
In the open procedure of article 27 of Law 4412/2016 any interested economic operator may submit a bid in response to the notice, without prior selection. The contracting authority publishes the tender documents, waits for the deadline, opens and evaluates all bids submitted. It is the procedure with the greatest transparency and the least discretion for the authority.
Above and below the thresholds
The same type of procedure is applied under two sets of rules, depending on whether the estimated value exceeds the EU thresholds.
| Element | Above the thresholds | Below the thresholds |
|---|---|---|
| Publication | TED and ΚΗΜΔΗΣ | ΚΗΜΔΗΣ |
| Minimum bidding deadline | 35 days from dispatch of the notice to TED, 30 with electronic submission | 15 days from publication in ΚΗΜΔΗΣ for supplies and services |
| Participation document | ESPD | ESPD |
| Submission | Electronically through ΕΣΗΔΗΣ | Electronically through ΕΣΗΔΗΣ above the mandatory use threshold |
The exact EU thresholds and the threshold for mandatory use of ΕΣΗΔΗΣ are given in the guide on direct award and thresholds.
Stages
- Publication of the tender documents and submission of questions by interested parties through ΕΣΗΔΗΣ.
- Electronic submission of bids in two envelopes: participation documents with the technical offer, and the financial offer.
- Opening and evaluation of the participation documents and the technical offers by the tender committee.
- Opening of the financial offers of those found technically acceptable, and ranking.
- Invitation to the provisional contractor for the award evidence, checking and award.
- Signing of the contract after the appeal deadlines pass.
Since Law 4782/2021 the evaluation stages can be concluded in a single decision, which shortened the time between submission and award.
The other procedures
The restricted procedure adds a pre-selection stage: only those invited submit bids. The competitive procedure with negotiation and the competitive dialogue allow discussion with the bidders for complex subject matter. Negotiation without publication is an exceptional procedure for urgent needs, exclusivity or after a failed tender. Below the 30,000 euro threshold the direct award applies.
Every tender in the GOVADI platform carries its procedure type and you can filter by procedure, stage, budget and fit score, so that you see only those worth opening.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bid for only one lot of the tender?
If the tender documents divide the contract into lots, yes, unless they expressly state that bids must cover all lots. Each lot is evaluated and awarded separately.
What happens if only one bid is submitted?
The procedure may continue with one bid, provided it is acceptable. The authority may nevertheless cancel the tender if it finds the result unsatisfactory, by a reasoned decision.