Glossary

Procurement glossary.

A reference guide to the key terms, concepts, and acronyms used in European public procurement.

A2 terms

Above-Threshold Procurement

Procurement contracts whose estimated value exceeds the EU-defined thresholds, requiring publication on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and compliance with the full EU Procurement Directives.

Award Criteria

The criteria used by a contracting authority to evaluate tenders and select the winning bid. Common approaches include lowest price and MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender).

B1 term

Below-Threshold Procurement

Contracts below the EU financial thresholds that are governed by national procurement rules rather than the full EU Directives. These are typically published only on national portals.

C5 terms

An order placed under an existing framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or similar arrangement. Only suppliers already admitted to that arrangement can be awarded it, either directly or after a mini-competition among them.

Competitive Dialogue

A two-stage EU procurement procedure for complex contracts, in which the buyer holds a dialogue with selected candidates to develop one or more solutions, then invites them to submit final tenders.

Competitive Procedure with Negotiation

A two-stage EU procurement procedure in which selected candidates submit initial tenders that the buyer can negotiate to improve their content, before final tenders are evaluated.

Contracting Authority

A public-sector body or entity that is subject to procurement regulations and required to follow formal tendering procedures when purchasing goods, services, or works.

CPV Code (Common Procurement Vocabulary)

A standardized EU classification system that assigns numerical codes to categories of goods, services, and works. Used to categorize and search for procurement opportunities across all EU portals.

D1 term

Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)

An electronic procurement process open to any supplier that meets the selection criteria throughout its duration. Similar to a framework agreement but allows new entrants at any time.

E3 terms

eForms

The EU's mandatory standard for publishing procurement notices on TED, replacing legacy Standard Forms. Defines a structured data format covering all notice types.

eNotice

A digital procurement notice published electronically on TED or a national portal. Since October 2023, all above-threshold EU notices must use the eForms standard.

ESPD (European Single Procurement Document)

A self-declaration form used in EU procurement that allows suppliers to demonstrate eligibility without submitting full documentation upfront. Simplifies the qualification stage for cross-border bidding.

F1 term

Framework Agreement

A pre-established agreement with one or more suppliers that sets the terms (prices, quantities, conditions) for future call-off contracts over a defined period, typically up to four years.

I3 terms

Innovation Partnership

An EU procurement procedure for developing an innovative product, service or works that is not yet available on the market and then buying the result, within one partnership.

Invitation-only Procedures

Procurement procedures, mostly below the EU thresholds, in which the buyer chooses which suppliers to invite to submit offers instead of publishing an open call. Other suppliers have no right to take part, but can often ask the buyer to be considered.

ITT (Invitation to Tender)

A formal request issued by a contracting authority inviting suppliers to submit bids for a specific contract. Typically includes technical specifications, evaluation criteria, and submission deadlines.

L1 term

Lot

A subdivision of a procurement contract into smaller parts, each of which can be bid on separately. Contracting authorities are encouraged to divide large contracts into lots to increase SME participation.

M1 term

MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender)

An award criterion that evaluates tenders based on a combination of quality and price factors, rather than lowest price alone. May include criteria like technical merit, delivery time, and environmental performance.

N2 terms

Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication

An exceptional EU procedure in which the buyer negotiates directly with one or more chosen suppliers without publishing a call for competition. It is allowed only on the narrow grounds listed in Article 32 of Directive 2014/24/EU.

NUTS Code

Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics — a geographic classification system used in EU procurement to specify the location where a contract will be performed. Ranges from NUTS 0 (country) to NUTS 3 (small region).

O2 terms

OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union)

The official gazette of the EU where above-threshold procurement notices are published. The Supplement to the OJEU (known as TED) is the dedicated procurement section.

Open Procedure

The most common EU procurement procedure where any interested supplier can submit a tender. There is no pre-qualification stage — all tenders are evaluated directly against the published criteria.

P2 terms

PIN (Prior Information Notice)

An advance notice published by a contracting authority to inform the market about upcoming procurement opportunities. Can be used to reduce minimum tender deadlines.

Procurement Pipeline

The sequence of stages a tender opportunity moves through: notice publication, tender preparation, submission, evaluation, award, and contract execution.

R5 terms

Request to Participate

The first step in a two-stage procurement procedure, in which a supplier applies to be selected and shows it meets the selection criteria before any tender is submitted. Only the candidates the buyer selects are invited to tender.

Restricted Procedure

A two-stage procurement procedure where suppliers first submit expressions of interest, then only those shortlisted by the authority are invited to submit full tenders.

RFI (Request for Information)

A preliminary inquiry issued to the market to gather information about available solutions, capabilities, and pricing before launching a formal procurement process.

RFP (Request for Proposal)

A document issued by a contracting authority requesting detailed proposals from suppliers, typically for complex services or solutions where the approach is as important as the price.

RFQ (Request for Quotation)

A request for suppliers to provide a price quote for clearly defined goods or services. Simpler than an RFP, typically used for lower-value or standardized purchases.

S3 terms

Selection Criteria

Minimum requirements that suppliers must meet to be considered for a contract, covering financial standing, technical capacity, and professional qualifications. Distinct from award criteria.

SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise)

Companies with fewer than 250 employees and annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million. EU procurement policy actively encourages SME access through lot division and simplified procedures.

Sub-Threshold Procurement

See Below-Threshold Procurement. Contracts below EU financial thresholds that follow national rather than EU-wide procurement rules.

T3 terms

TED (Tenders Electronic Daily)

The online portal of the OJEU Supplement where all above-threshold EU procurement notices are published. Covers contract notices, award notices, and prior information notices across all 27 member states.

Tender Notice (Contract Notice)

The formal publication announcing a procurement opportunity, including details of the required goods, services, or works, qualification requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission deadlines.

Threshold Values

Financial limits set by the European Commission (revised every two years) that determine whether a procurement must follow full EU Directive procedures. Current thresholds vary by contract type and contracting authority.

V2 terms

Viability Score

A TenderRadar-specific metric that uses AI to assess how well a procurement opportunity matches a company's capabilities, capacity, and strategic fit, expressed as a percentage.

Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice

A notice published by a contracting authority to announce its intention to award a contract without a competitive procedure, providing transparency and a brief standstill period before the award.

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Procurement glossary.

Above-Threshold Procurement

Award Criteria

Below-Threshold Procurement

Call-off (Mini-competition)

Competitive Dialogue

Competitive Procedure with Negotiation

Contracting Authority

CPV Code (Common Procurement Vocabulary)

Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)

eForms

eNotice

ESPD (European Single Procurement Document)

Framework Agreement

Innovation Partnership

Invitation-only Procedures

ITT (Invitation to Tender)

Lot

MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender)

Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication

NUTS Code

OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union)

Open Procedure

PIN (Prior Information Notice)

Procurement Pipeline

Request to Participate

Restricted Procedure

RFI (Request for Information)

RFP (Request for Proposal)

RFQ (Request for Quotation)

Selection Criteria

SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise)

Sub-Threshold Procurement

TED (Tenders Electronic Daily)

Tender Notice (Contract Notice)

Threshold Values

Viability Score

Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice

Put your procurement knowledge to work

Procurement glossary.

Above-Threshold Procurement

Award Criteria

Below-Threshold Procurement

Call-off (Mini-competition)

Competitive Dialogue

Competitive Procedure with Negotiation

Contracting Authority

CPV Code (Common Procurement Vocabulary)

Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)

eForms

eNotice

ESPD (European Single Procurement Document)

Framework Agreement

Innovation Partnership

Invitation-only Procedures

ITT (Invitation to Tender)

Lot

MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender)

Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication

NUTS Code

OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union)

Open Procedure

PIN (Prior Information Notice)

Procurement Pipeline

Request to Participate

Restricted Procedure

RFI (Request for Information)

RFP (Request for Proposal)

RFQ (Request for Quotation)

Selection Criteria

SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise)

Sub-Threshold Procurement

TED (Tenders Electronic Daily)

Tender Notice (Contract Notice)

Threshold Values

Viability Score

Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice

Put your procurement knowledge to work