GTM Glossary · Compliance & Legal
Public Tender
A formal, published procurement process through which public bodies buy goods and services under competition rules.
[01]What It Means
Above EU thresholds, contracts must be advertised and awarded on published criteria, often via open, restricted, or negotiated procedures. Submissions are scored formally, deadlines are absolute, and post-hoc clarification is limited.
[02]Why It Matters
Public tenders reward preparation over relationship. The work that decides the outcome happens months before publication, in framework positioning, reference building, and pre-market engagement where it is permitted.
[03]Where It Goes Wrong
Discovering a tender at publication, when the specification is already shaped.Submitting without the required certifications or local entity.Underestimating the documentation burden, which sinks small bidders.
[04]Related Terms