The European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) is a declaration in which the bidder states that no grounds for exclusion apply to it and that it meets the selection criteria. It is submitted with the bid instead of a pile of certificates; the documents themselves are presented when the contract is signed. In Bulgaria it is submitted electronically, as part of the bid in CAIS EOP.
Who fills it in
- The bidder – the company submitting the bid.
- Every member of a consortium, if you bid together with other companies.
- Every subcontractor you have named.
- Every third party whose capacity you rely on (for example a company that “lends” you experience or equipment).
The ESPD is signed by everyone who represents the company, and in some cases also by the members of the management bodies. A missing signature of a partner with power of representation is a classic reason for exclusion.
What is declared
Part II – the bidder. Company details, the consortium, the subcontractors; whether you are a small or medium-sized enterprise; the lots you bid for.
Part III – grounds for exclusion. Convictions for certain offences, unpaid taxes and social security, insolvency, conflict of interest, breaches of labour and environmental law, earlier terminated contracts. Answer honestly: a false declaration is a ground for exclusion in itself and for future sanctions.
Part IV – selection criteria. Here you fill in what the buyer asked for in the notice: suitability (for example registration in a professional register), turnover, insurance, completed contracts, staff, equipment, standards. Fill in only what was asked, but fill it in fully – with dates, values, recipients.
The most common mistakes
- A section of Part IV left empty because “we will present the documents later”. The committee evaluates what is declared; an empty field is a missing requirement.
- Experience from contracts that do not meet the requirement for period or subject.
- Relying on the capacity of a third party without its ESPD and proof of its commitment.
- A mismatch between the ESPD and the other documents – for example a different number of staff in the ESPD and in the technical proposal.
- An old form or missing signatures.
Tip
Keep a “base” ESPD with the permanent data filled in and adapt it for each tender. Check Part IV against the notice point by point, and before submitting have a second check by someone who did not fill it in.
The article is general information, not legal advice. When in doubt, consult a public procurement lawyer.
Updated on 1 Oct 2026. The article is general information, not legal advice.
