Switzerland spends approximately CHF 40 billion annually on public procurement — around 6% of GDP. This guide covers everything you need to know about finding and winning Swiss government tenders, from the federal simap.ch portal to navigating 26 cantonal procurement regimes.
By TenderRadar Team
Switzerland has a mature, transparent public procurement system governed by federal and cantonal legislation. As a WTO GPA signatory, its above-threshold procurements are open to international suppliers. The market is decentralised: the federal government, 26 cantons, and over 2,000 municipalities each conduct their own procurements. Key spending areas include transport infrastructure (rail and tunnels), healthcare, IT services, defence, and consulting. Switzerland's strong economy, political stability, and commitment to quality make it an attractive procurement market for both domestic and international firms.
The official Swiss procurement platform (Système d'information sur les marchés publics en Suisse). Mandatory publication point for all federal tenders and most cantonal/municipal tenders above threshold. Provides tender notices, award notices, and document downloads.
Visit portalWhile Switzerland is not an EU member, some Swiss procurements above WTO GPA thresholds may also appear on TED, particularly those related to bilateral agreements with the EU.
Visit portalCommercial tender aggregation platform that monitors simap.ch and other Swiss procurement sources, offering alerts and analytics for suppliers.
Visit portalBasel is a global pharma hub (Novartis, Roche). Federal and cantonal health authorities procure pharmaceutical products, medical devices, laboratory equipment, and research services. Hospital procurement is significant across all cantons.
Major investments in rail (SBB/CFF network upgrades, NEAT/Gotthard base tunnel maintenance), road infrastructure, and urban transit. The Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) and SBB are among the largest contracting authorities.
The federal government and cantons invest heavily in digital transformation, e-government platforms, cybersecurity, cloud migration, and ERP systems. The Federal Office of Information Technology (BIT/OFIT) is a key buyer.
Strong demand for management consulting, legal advisory, audit, engineering consultancy, and environmental impact assessments across all levels of government.
Armasuisse (the federal procurement agency for defence) procures military equipment, IT systems, vehicles, ammunition, and maintenance services. Switzerland maintains a well-funded armed forces despite its neutrality.
Procurement related to hydropower maintenance, renewable energy projects, waste management, water treatment, and environmental remediation. Switzerland's Energy Strategy 2050 drives significant clean energy investment.
Yes. Switzerland is a WTO GPA signatory, so above-threshold federal procurements are open to international suppliers on equal terms. For cantonal and municipal procurements below WTO thresholds, access may be more restricted and local presence can be advantageous. There are no blanket nationality restrictions, but individual tenders may have specific qualification requirements.
BöB (Bundesgesetz über das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen) is the Federal Act on Public Procurement governing federal-level purchases. IVöB (Interkantonale Vereinbarung über das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen) is the Intercantonal Agreement that harmonises procurement rules across Switzerland's 26 cantons. Both were modernised in 2021 to align with each other and introduce sustainability criteria, but cantonal implementation timelines vary.
Submit your bid in the language specified in the tender documents. Federal tenders typically accept bids in German, French, or Italian, with the tender notice indicating the lead language. Cantonal tenders are usually in the dominant language of that canton. When in doubt, contact the contracting authority — they are generally responsive to clarification requests.
For federal procurements, appeals are filed with the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) within 20 days of the award decision. For cantonal procurements, the appeal body varies by canton — typically a cantonal administrative court or a dedicated procurement review body. The 2021 reforms strengthened transparency requirements, making it easier to identify grounds for appeal.
Increasingly yes. simap.ch handles publication, document distribution, and increasingly supports electronic bid submission. However, some contracting authorities — particularly at the municipal level — may still require physical document submission for certain tenders. Always check the specific tender requirements. The trend is firmly toward full digitisation.
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