Public Procurement for Beginners: From Registration to Your First Bid
Awarda Editorial · · 7 min read
A step-by-step guide for SMEs new to EU public procurement: what it is, how to register, how to choose the right CPV codes, and how to find your first winnable tender.
What is public procurement?
Public procurement is the process by which government bodies — national, regional, and local — buy goods, services, and works from private suppliers. In the EU, procurement above certain value thresholds must follow transparent competitive procedures governed by EU directives and national law.
The EU public procurement market is enormous: it accounts for roughly 14% of EU GDP each year, covering everything from office supplies to major infrastructure projects. For SMEs, it represents a stable, non-cyclical revenue source that most companies overlook.
Where are EU tenders published?
All public contracts above the EU threshold values must be published in Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) — the official EU procurement journal run by the Publications Office. TED publishes around 1,000 new notices every working day across all 27 member states plus Norway.
Below-threshold contracts are published on national platforms — in Lithuania, that is CVP IS (cvpis.lt); in Germany, DTVP and regional portals; in France, BOAMP; and so on. These national notices are generally only in the local language and are harder to monitor if you are targeting multiple markets.
CPV codes: the language of procurement
Every EU tender is tagged with one or more Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes — an eight-digit classification system that describes exactly what a buyer is purchasing. For example, IT services start with 72xxx, cleaning services with 90919xxx, and construction works with 45xxx.
Selecting the right CPV codes is critical: if you choose codes that are too broad, you will be flooded with irrelevant notices; too narrow, and you will miss opportunities. Awarda's onboarding wizard suggests the best codes for your sector based on past match data.
Small-value contracts: the best place to start
Below-threshold contracts (often called 'small-value' or 'light-touch' contracts) are governed by simplified rules: fewer documentation requirements, shorter timelines, and sometimes direct negotiation with suppliers. They are an ideal entry point for companies with no prior public-sector experience.
Winning two or three small contracts builds a track record that buyers reference when evaluating larger bids. Start small, deliver well, and scale up.
Awarda: your automated tender radar
Awarda monitors TED and national portals across the EU, scores every notice against your company profile, and delivers a ranked daily digest so you never miss a relevant tender. The Starter plan (€79/month) covers up to 5 CPV codes; the Growth plan (€249/month) is unlimited. Both include a 3-day free trial.