- Thresholds for below-threshold contracts
- Thresholds for low-value contracts
1. Thresholds for below-threshold contracts
Procedures for awarding below-threshold contracts depend on whether the goods, services or works are generally available on the market or not.
Award of contracts via electronic marketplace
For goods and services generally available on the market, the electronic marketplace may be used (information is available only in Slovak).
There are two possibilities for awarding contracts via the electronic marketplace:
- awarding a contract with provisional acceptance of a tender
- awarding a contract based on its publication in the electronic marketplace
In the first case, the contracting authority may provisionally accept the tender with the lowest price published in the electronic marketplace, if at least three tenders are published for the same or equivalent goods, works or services at the time of acceptance.
After provisionally accepting a tender, within a period of at least 72 hours each registered tenderer or candidate is entitled to submit to the contracting authority a tender for goods, works or services identical or equivalent to those of the provisionally accepted tender.
In the second case, the contracting authority may award the contract based on its publication in the electronic marketplace and tenders submitted by registered tenderers and candidates.
Award of contracts without using the electronic marketplace
For goods, works and services other than those generally available on the market, or foodstuffs, the procedure does not involve the electronic marketplace.
Contracting authorities awarding a below-threshold contract without using the electronic marketplace first prepare and send an invitation to tender for publication in the Public Procurement Bulletin (information is available only in Slovak).
The time limit to submit tenders may not be shorter than:
- 12 days from the date on which the invitation to tender was sent for publication in the Bulletin in the case of supply contracts or service contracts;
- 20 days from the date on which the invitation to tender was sent for publication in the Bulletin in the case of works contracts.
For awarding a below-threshold contract without using the electronic marketplace, it is possible to sign a framework contract for more than 12 months (up to 4 years).
2. Thresholds for low-value contracts
When awarding low-value contracts, there is almost no formal procedure established that the contracting authority should apply for the award. The contracting authority should consider the principle of economy and effectiveness, taking into account the nature, scope, availability and value of the subject matter of the low-value contract. The procedure is mostly governed by the contracting authority’s internal rules.
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Last modified: 20. 10. 2020
Publication date: 8. 10. 2020