Open procedure

An open procedure is a single-stage procurement method where any interested supplier can submit a full tender by the specified deadline. There is no pre-qualification or shortlist; all bids are assessed directly based on the same evaluation criteria. In this method, both selection (qualifications) and award (price, quality, etc.) requirements are submitted and evaluated together.

Under EU rules, contracting authorities can freely choose to use the open procedure. Any supplier that meets the formal requirements may participate, making this the most transparent and competitive choice. Importantly, negotiations are not allowed—the offers submitted are evaluated as-is. The procedure is often used when the requirements are clear, and the market is expected to field multiple capable bidders.

In practice, the open procedure is commonly used for straightforward and routine procurement, as it maximizes access and competition. It reduces administrative complexity by avoiding a two-stage process and speeds up procurement execution. However, it can require evaluating many bids, which may increase processing time—especially in complex tenders. Despite this, the transparent and inclusive nature makes it a preferred baseline method for many public buyers.