Open Tendering

Open tendering is the most commonly used procurement method and occurs when a contracting authority makes an invitation to tender publicly available. This could be done through advertising in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) or on the contracting authority’s own website. Once an open tender has been advertised, any supplier who meets the minimum criteria set out in the contract notice can submit a bid.

The advantages of using open tendering are that it:

– Increases competition, leading to lower prices

– Ensures all potential suppliers have a fair chance to bid for the work

– Makes the procurement process more transparent

The main disadvantage of open tendering is that it can be time-consuming and resource-intensive for both the contracting authority and suppliers.