Thresholds in Public Procurement

Public procurement comprises all purchases of goods, services and works that have economic value and that are made by a public authority. The Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts is applicable to purchases that reach the thresholds indicated in the Act.

The national threshold is 60.000 euro for purchases of goods and services, 150.000 euro for public work contracts, 300.000 euro for services in the field of social services and health care, 400.000 euro for other special services, and 500.000 euro for concession contracts. The Act is not applicable to purchases below the said thresholds. However, also in procuring contracts below the threshold values the main principles of the Act must be observed, such as equal treatment and non-discrimination.

When purchases reach EU thresholds the EU procedures stipulated in the Act become applicable. The EU threshold for purchases made by central government authorities is 139.000 euro for goods and services. The EU threshold for purchases made by other contracting authorities is 214.000 euro for goods and services and 5.350.000 euro for public work contracts.

The Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts by contracting authorities in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors is applicable in case of purchases made by entities operating in the said sectors. The so-called Utilities Sector Act is applied only if the EU thresholds of the Utilities Sector Act are met, i.e. 428.000 euro for goods and services and 5.350.000 euro for public work contracts. The nature of the contracting authority primarily determines whether the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts or the Utilities Sector Act is applied.

Up to date thresholds should always be checked from the Hilma service maintained by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.