This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 32014L0024
Public procurement
Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement
It establishes purchasing procedures for public buyers.
The legislation specifies that when national authorities use public procurement to invite tenders to provide works, supplies or services, they must treat all applicants equally and not discriminate between them. They must also be transparent in their dealings.
Thresholds
The rules applicable to public contracts must be followed when the sums involved are above the following thresholds:
The European Commission revises these thresholds every 2 years in accordance with the European Union’s (EU) international obligations.
Criteria
The contract is awarded to the most economically advantageous tender identified on the basis of the lowest price or the best price–quality ratio. The quality criterion may include the overall cost effectiveness, technical quality, environmental and social aspects, trading and delivery conditions, etc.
Innovation and small companies
The legislation introduces a new procedure to promote the development of innovative products, services or works. To facilitate the participation of small companies, the new rules encourage public authorities to divide up large contracts into individual lots.
Safeguards
EU Member States have to ensure that contractors and their subcontractors comply with all applicable EU and national environmental, social and labour law, collective agreements and any relevant international obligations.
The legislation provides rules for handling abnormally low offers, for reasons including to prevent workers’ rights being abused.
Exemptions
Nothing in the legislation requires Member State governments to contract out services they wish to provide themselves, nor does it affect national social security legislation.
Contracts relating to the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors are excluded from the directive. Instead, they are regulated by Directive 2014/25/EU (see summary).
In addition, some sectors such as electronic communications and research and development can be excluded under certain conditions.
The directive had to be transposed into national law by 18 April 2016.
For further information, see:
Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, pp. 65–242).
Successive amendments to Directive 2014/24/EU have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and repealing Directive 2004/17/EC (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, pp. 243–374).
See consolidated version.
Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the award of concession contracts (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, pp. 1–64).
See consolidated version.
Directive 2009/81/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 13 July 2009 on the coordination of procedures for the award of certain works contracts, supply contracts and service contracts by contracting authorities or entities in the fields of defence and security, and amending Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC (OJ L 216, 20.8.2009, pp. 76–136).
See consolidated version.
last update 08.12.2023