How to Find Government Tenders in Lithuania
Lithuania's public procurement market is worth approximately €7 billion annually, representing around 12% of GDP. Driven by EU-funded infrastructure projects like Rail Baltica, NATO defence spending, and a rapidly modernising digital economy, Lithuania offers substantial opportunities for both domestic and international suppliers. This guide explains the legal framework, key portals, and practical strategies for winning Lithuanian government contracts.
By TenderRadar Team
Procurement Landscape
Lithuania has a dynamic public procurement market shaped by significant EU structural funding, NATO membership obligations, and ambitious infrastructure modernisation. As a Baltic eurozone member with a population of around 2.8 million, Lithuania punches above its weight in procurement spending, driven by large-scale projects like Rail Baltica, motorway upgrades, and defence modernisation. The country's procurement system is fully electronic and aligned with EU directives, making it accessible to suppliers across the single market. The Viešųjų pirkimų tarnyba (VPT — Public Procurement Office) oversees compliance and transparency, while the CPO LT (Centrinė perkančioji organizacija) acts as a central purchasing body for standardised goods and services. EU NextGenerationEU and structural funds continue to fuel spending on green energy, digital transformation, and healthcare infrastructure.
€7 billion
Annual procurement value
~12%
Share of GDP
Legal Framework
Lithuanian public procurement is governed by the Viešųjų pirkimų įstatymas (Law on Public Procurement), which transposes EU Directives 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU into national law. The law establishes principles of transparency, equal treatment, non-discrimination, proportionality, and mutual recognition. It mandates fully electronic procurement through the CVP IS platform for all contracting authorities. Separate legislation covers defence and security procurement (Gynybos ir saugumo srities pirkimų įstatymas) and concessions. The law provides for open, restricted, competitive dialogue, competitive procedure with negotiation, innovation partnership, and negotiated procedures. Simplified rules apply to below-threshold contracts, though publication on CVP IS remains mandatory for most procurements. Lithuania has strengthened anti-corruption measures and SME access provisions in line with EU best practices.
- Viešųjų pirkimų įstatymas (Law on Public Procurement) — primary legislation transposing EU procurement directives
- Pirkimų, atliekamų vandentvarkos, energetikos, transporto ar pašto paslaugų srities perkančiųjų subjektų, įstatymas — utilities sector procurement law
- Gynybos ir saugumo srities pirkimų įstatymas — defence and security procurement law
- Koncesijų įstatymas — concessions law
- VPT guidelines and regulations on electronic procurement, qualification requirements, and evaluation criteria
Key authority: VPT (Viešųjų pirkimų tarnyba / Public Procurement Office)
Official Procurement Portals
CVP IS (Centrinė viešųjų pirkimų informacinė sistema)
PrimaryLithuania's central public procurement information system. All contracting authorities must publish notices and conduct electronic procurement through this platform. It provides tender search, document downloads, electronic bid submission, and email alerts. Registration is required to submit bids.
Visit portalTED (Tenders Electronic Daily)
The EU's official journal supplement where all Lithuanian tenders above EU thresholds must be published. Essential for tracking high-value opportunities.
Visit portalCPO LT (Centrinė perkančioji organizacija)
Lithuania's central purchasing organisation that operates electronic catalogues and framework agreements for standardised goods and services. Public bodies can procure through CPO LT catalogues, making it an important channel for suppliers of common products and services.
Visit portalMinistry of the Economy and Innovation
Publishes information on EU-funded programmes and investment opportunities in Lithuania, including major infrastructure and innovation projects that generate procurement activity.
Visit portalProcurement Thresholds
| Category | Threshold (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Supplies | €143,000 (central government) / €221,000 (other contracting authorities) |
| Services | €143,000 (central government) / €221,000 (other contracting authorities) |
| Works | €5,538,000 |
These are the standard EU thresholds effective from 1 January 2024. Contracts above these values must be advertised in the OJEU/TED. Below-threshold contracts follow simplified national procedures but must still be published on CVP IS. Lithuania applies a 'low-value procurement' threshold (mažos vertės pirkimai) below €58,000 for supplies/services and €145,000 for works, allowing simplified procedures with reduced formalities.
Key Sectors & Opportunities
Information Technology & Digital Services
Lithuania is rapidly digitising its public administration and investing in e-governance solutions, cybersecurity, and IT infrastructure. Government tenders cover software development, cloud services, data centre modernisation, and digital citizen services. The country's growing tech ecosystem in Vilnius supports a strong pipeline of IT procurement.
CPV: 72
Transport & Infrastructure
Major infrastructure projects dominate Lithuanian procurement, led by Rail Baltica — the flagship cross-Baltic railway connecting Vilnius to Warsaw and ultimately to Western Europe. Road modernisation, bridge construction, port expansion in Klaipėda, and urban transport upgrades in Vilnius and Kaunas generate significant tender volumes.
CPV: 45
Defence & Security
As a NATO member bordering Russia and Belarus, Lithuania has substantially increased defence spending to over 2.5% of GDP. Procurement covers military equipment, base infrastructure, communication systems, surveillance technology, and cybersecurity. Allied procurement programmes further expand opportunities.
CPV: 35
Construction & Real Estate
Significant public investment flows into construction of schools, hospitals, social housing, government buildings, and urban regeneration. EU structural funds co-finance many construction projects, particularly in regional cities and rural areas.
CPV: 45
Healthcare & Medical Equipment
Lithuania's public healthcare system generates substantial procurement for medical devices, hospital equipment, pharmaceuticals, laboratory supplies, and healthcare IT systems. EU-funded modernisation of regional hospitals and clinics drives ongoing demand.
CPV: 33
Energy & Environment
Lithuania is investing heavily in renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass), energy efficiency retrofits of public buildings, waste management modernisation, and water treatment infrastructure, driven by EU climate targets and energy independence goals.
CPV: 09
Tips for Suppliers
Register on CVP IS and Obtain an Electronic Signature
All public procurement in Lithuania is conducted electronically through CVP IS (cvpp.eviesiejipirkimai.lt). You must register an account and obtain a qualified electronic signature compatible with the platform. EU-based suppliers can use eIDAS-compliant qualified electronic signatures. Without registration, you cannot access full tender documents or submit bids.
Monitor CPO LT Framework Agreements
Lithuania's central purchasing organisation (CPO LT) operates framework agreements and electronic catalogues for common goods and services. If your products fit standardised categories (office supplies, IT equipment, vehicles, cleaning services), becoming a CPO LT supplier can provide a steady stream of orders from hundreds of public bodies without bidding on individual tenders.
Prepare Lithuanian-Language Documentation
Tender documents and bid submissions are predominantly in Lithuanian. While EU suppliers have the right to submit certificates in their original language with certified translations, your technical and financial proposals should be professionally translated into Lithuanian. Invest in sworn translations of key corporate documents, certificates, and references to streamline your bidding process.
Leverage EU Structural Fund Opportunities
A significant portion of Lithuanian public procurement is co-financed by EU structural and investment funds. These projects often have larger budgets and longer timelines. Monitor the Ministry of Finance and EU investment agency portals for upcoming programmes in your sector, as these generate waves of related tenders on CVP IS.
Understand the Evaluation Criteria Before Bidding
Lithuanian tenders use either lowest-price or best price-quality ratio (ekonomiškai naudingiausio pasiūlymo) evaluation. Carefully analyse the weighting of quality versus price criteria in each tender. For quality-scored tenders, invest heavily in your technical proposal — generic submissions score poorly. Pay close attention to mandatory qualification requirements to avoid exclusion on technicalities.
See how TenderRadar covers Lithuania: Lithuania coverage details, portals & sources →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Lithuanian government tenders published?
All Lithuanian public procurement notices must be published on CVP IS (Centrinė viešųjų pirkimų informacinė sistema) at cvpp.eviesiejipirkimai.lt. This is the mandatory central platform for all contracting authorities. Tenders above EU thresholds are also published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily). Additionally, CPO LT (cpo.lt) manages framework agreements and electronic catalogues for standardised procurement.
Can foreign companies bid on Lithuanian public tenders?
Yes. EU/EEA companies have full and equal access under single market rules. Companies from GPA (Government Procurement Agreement) signatory countries can also participate in above-threshold tenders. Foreign bidders must register on CVP IS, obtain a qualified electronic signature, and submit documentation in Lithuanian (with certified translations accepted for foreign certificates). Non-EU companies may face reciprocity requirements.
What is the typical procurement timeline in Lithuania?
Open procedures typically allow 30-35 days for bid submission from publication (minimum 30 days for above-threshold, reducible to 15 days with prior information notice). Below-threshold simplified procedures may allow 14-20 days. Evaluation usually takes 2-8 weeks depending on complexity. The overall process from publication to contract signature typically spans 2-5 months for standard contracts.
What is CPO LT and how does it work?
CPO LT (Centrinė perkančioji organizacija) is Lithuania's central purchasing organisation. It establishes framework agreements and electronic catalogues for commonly purchased goods and services (IT equipment, office supplies, vehicles, energy, etc.). Public bodies can order directly through CPO LT catalogues, simplifying procurement. Suppliers join by winning CPO LT framework agreement tenders, then receive orders from multiple contracting authorities.
Do I need to speak Lithuanian to participate in procurement?
Lithuanian is the required language for all procurement procedures, including tender documents, bid submissions, and communications with contracting authorities. While EU regulations allow submission of European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) in any EU language, the technical and financial proposals must be in Lithuanian. Professional translation services are essential for foreign bidders. Some international tenders or defence procurements may accept English, but this is the exception.
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