Below the lowest national thresholds the Public Procurement Act requires no procedure. The buyer may choose a contractor directly – most often after a market survey or an enquiry to a few companies.
Thresholds
| Type of contract | Direct award for a value excl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Works | below €40,903.35 |
| Social and other specific services (Annex No. 2) | below €51,129.19 |
| Other supplies and services | below €25,564.59 |
Contract or invoice
- For supplies and services the expense may be proved with primary payment documents alone – for example an invoice. A written contract is not mandatory (Art. 20(5)).
- For works the law provides no such relief, so a written contract is usually signed.
- In defence and security the contract is always in writing (Art. 20(6)).
> Note: It is prohibited to split a tender artificially to keep it below the threshold. The value is set for all purchases of the same kind for the year.
How to become a contractor for such purchases
These purchases are not announced, so buyers turn to companies they know. Keep a good presence in your sector, answer enquiries quickly and watch which buyers regularly buy what you offer.
Updated on 3 Oct 2026. General information, not legal advice. The Public Procurement Act, its implementing regulation and the tender documents prevail.
