Public procurement thresholds are value levels that determine which set of rules a contract must follow. Contracts above the relevant threshold must be advertised EU-wide (via TED) and run under the full procurement directives; contracts below it follow lighter national rules. Knowing the thresholds tells you where a contract will be published and how competitive and formal the process will be.
What a threshold is
Thresholds are set in the EU procurement directives and revised every two years to track exchange rates. They differ by who is buying and what is being bought — central government authorities have lower thresholds than other public bodies, and works (construction) contracts have a much higher threshold than supplies and services. The figures are net of VAT and based on the estimated total contract value over its full term.
Why thresholds matter to bidders
- Where it is published. Above-threshold contracts appear on TED and national portals; below-threshold contracts usually appear only on national or local platforms. If you rely on TED alone, you miss the large volume of smaller contracts published nationally.
- How formal the process is. Above-threshold procedures follow prescribed timelines, standardised documents such as the ESPD, and strict rules on changes and clarifications. Below-threshold processes are often faster and more flexible.
- Who you are competing with. Higher-value, EU-advertised contracts attract cross-border competition; smaller local contracts often favour suppliers who already understand the buyer.
How value is estimated
The threshold test uses the estimated total value, and buyers are not allowed to split a contract into smaller lots just to fall below a threshold and avoid the rules. For framework agreements and repeat purchases, the value is calculated over the whole arrangement, not a single call-off. This is why some seemingly small opportunities are still advertised EU-wide.
Practical takeaways
- Watch both TED and the relevant national portal — the split around the threshold means neither source is complete on its own.
- Expect more paperwork and longer timelines above threshold, and plan your bid resources accordingly.
- Do not assume a below-threshold contract has no rules; national regimes still require fair, transparent processes.
How Tendly helps
Because Tendly aggregates both TED and national portals, you see above- and below-threshold opportunities in one place. AI matching then ranks them against your profile so you can focus on the contracts worth bidding for. Explore what is live on the tenders hub, or read the TED and ESPD glossary entries for related terms.