A bidder, also known as a tenderer or offeror, is the individual company, consortium, or economic operator that submits a formal proposal in response to a public procurement opportunity. In the EU procurement context, a bidder may be a solo business entity or a group (such as a consortium) formed specifically to meet the tender requirements.
This economic operator competes to fulfill the contracting authority’s needs by offering goods, services, or works, and once selected, transitions into the role of the contractor or awardee. The concept aligns with EU legal terminology, where the term economic operator encompasses suppliers, contractors, and service providers, from natural persons to legal entities or their associations.
Whether participating alone or jointly, bidders must comply with EU principles of transparency, equal treatment, and fair competition throughout the procurement process.
