Public Tenders are the process by which Greek Public Agencies request and assign to companies (economic entities) the supply of products, services, as well as the implementation of public projects.

Greek Public Bodies are the government organizations and public entities, such as Local Self-Governing Organizations (Municipalities, Regions), Central Administration (Ministries, Public Organizations), Health Administration Bodies and Other Bodies.

For example, Public Bodies include: Development Companies, Municipal Enterprises, Public Benefit Enterprises, NPDD, Federations, Chambers, Municipal Kindergartens, Sports Organizations, Public Libraries, Waste Management Associations, Municipal Port Funds, Courts of Appeal, Courts of First Instance, Magistrates' Courts, National Centers, ELTA , PPC, Foundations, Cultural Centers, Public Organizations, School Committees, etc.

The needs of the above vary and may include anything deemed necessary for their proper and uninterrupted operation. Examples of State Procurement include:

• Equipment and materials: vehicles, computer spare parts, stationery and other necessary materials.
  
• Third party services: maintenance, cleaning, security, transport, training and education.
• Health and safety supplies: hygiene, cleaning, medical equipment, medicines.
• Food services: School meals, food, catering and supplies for meal preparation.
• Educational Sector: School supplies, educational materials, equipment, educational facilities.
• Technical - Consulting services: financial management, environment, spatial planning and others.
• Construction works: construction of public buildings, bridges, roads and aqueducts.
  
  

For all of the above, Tenders for Public Works and State Procurement are held, so that the specifications and conditions of each need are taken into account. Subsequently, offers are submitted by the interested suppliers and the evaluation of the offers follows. The best offer is selected based on criteria such as price, quality, experience of the supplier etc.

Types of Public Tenders and Government Procurement

Open Electronic Tender through which approximately 75% of government procurement is awarded. It presupposes the publication of the full notice and allows any interested economic operator to submit a bid, thus ensuring the greatest possible participation of prospective Suppliers.


Since 2016, Public Tenders with a budget of more than 60,000 euros are submitted electronically, through the Ministry's platform (ESIDIS). In this way, full access to all participant files is provided to all interested parties. Consequently, full transparency is ensured for good governance and the efficient use of public resources. In this way, a healthy competition is created while any corruption phenomena are prevented. Today, public tenders exceeding 30,000 euros are carried out electronically.

Closed Tender according to which the contracting entity publishes a call for interest to specific entities and those interested submit within a specific deadline applications for participation together with a "capacity" file, describing the company's profile. Those who are selected on the basis of competence are informed of the full announcement and are invited to submit an offer.


Competitive procedure with Negotiation which is followed in exceptional cases provided for by law, strictly interpreted (law 2286/95, article 2, par. 13 and p.d. 370/95, article 10), such as e.g. for urgent needs, for research equipment, experimental or artistic, for additional supplies from an already selected Supplier, etc. and contracting entities are allowed to negotiate directly with the Suppliers of their choice, with or without prior publication of a notice.


In unpublished negotiations, at least three (3) Suppliers must be invited. This procedure is followed in cases of failure of a Tender or when the prices are considered unprofitable and there is an urgent need, in which case the Tender is continued with the process of negotiation through the submission of new financial or technical offers, where this is deemed necessary.


A Preliminary Tender is foreseen for low-value procurements up to a limit which is determined by Ministerial decision. The draft Tender does not require publication and is carried out by a Three-member Committee with the submission of written offers from at least three financial entities. A low-value supply can also be assigned to a specific Supplier from the beginning, the limit of which is also determined after a Ministerial decision.

Statistics of Public Contracts

The picture of the Public Tenders that take place in the Greek Territory is given through the Department of Tenders for Projects, Studies and Technical Services, of the Department of Tenders for Public Contracts.

The statistics for the year 2022 include almost 230,000 Contracts with a total value of more than 11.5 billion euros. This image is provided by the Department of Tenders for Projects, Studies and Technical Services, of the Department of Tenders for Public Contracts. In detail, the Public Tenders that took place in the Greek Territory are analyzed as follows:

> 8,000 Public Projects worth 4 billion euros

> 120,000 Commissions worth 3.8 billion euros

> 90,000 Services 3.5 billion euros

> 5,500 Studies, Technical Services worth 0.2 billion euros


Assignments were made by more than 2,500 Public Bodies.

Public Contracts Statistics for the 1st half of 2023

For the 1st half of the year 2023, 118,000 Public Tenders Contracts have been registered, with a total value of 9.5 billion euros, data coming from the "supplier's" Online Public Contracts Portal.


The Public Bodies that proceeded to Commission the Project have so far exceeded 2,200. They belong to the Central Administration, to Local Self-Government Organizations (Municipalities, Regions), Health Agencies and Other Greek State Agencies (Municipal Enterprises, Development Companies, Sports Organizations, School Committees, Management Agencies, Chambers, etc.).


In total, in the 1st half of 2023, 118,000 Contracts were concluded, from 18,000 Final Contractors (Businesses), whose Financial Offers were accepted.



Comparative results of the 1st half of 2022 with the 1st half of 2023 for Indicative Products/Services


> Trade in cleaning products, hygiene, etc.:
1st semester 2022: 1182 declarations
1st semester 2023: 1303 declarations


> Accounting Services:
1st semester 2022: 704 declarations
1st semester 2023: 809 declarations


> Items of Personal Protection:
1st semester 2022: 198 declarations
1st semester 2023: 235 declarations


> Cleaning Services:
1st semester 2022: 2847 declarations
1st semester 2023: 2941 declarations


> Maintenance works, renovations, etc.:
1st semester 2022: 1583 declarations
1st semester 2023: 2096 declarations


> Green Projects:
1st semester 2022: 2740 declarations
1st semester 2023: 2897 declarations


> Security Services:
1st semester 2022: 2439 declarations
1st semester 2023: 2700 declarations


> Electrical Services:
1st semester 2022: 6174 declarations
1st semester 2023: 5561 declarations


> Food Supply:
1st semester 2022: 7972 declarations
1st semester 2023: 7593 declarations