How do public tenders work in Greece?

Law and buyers

Greek public procurement is governed by Law 4412/2016, which transposes EU directives 2014/24 and 2014/25 and was substantially reformed by Law 4782/2021; concessions have their own law. The Ενιαία Αρχή Δημοσίων Συμβάσεων (ΕΑΔΗΣΥ, Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority), set up by Law 4912/2022, is an independent authority that sets procurement policy, publishes standard tender documents and decides on pre-litigation appeals. Contracting authorities include ministries, the 13 regions, municipalities, hospitals and health bodies, universities and state-owned enterprises. National central purchasing bodies run framework agreements and e-marketplaces, including the health sector's central purchasing authority (ΕΚΑΠΥ). Below the EU thresholds simpler national rules apply.[1][9]

Where tenders are published

All tender notices, award decisions and contracts must be published in the ΚΗΜΔΗΣ (Κεντρικό Ηλεκτρονικό Μητρώο Δημοσίων Συμβάσεων, Central Electronic Registry of Public Contracts), and above the EU thresholds also in the Official Journal of the EU (TED). Contracting authorities must use the ΕΣΗΔΗΣ (ESIDIS, National System of Electronic Public Procurement) for all stages of procedures above € 30.000, apart from direct awards. ESIDIS has a Promitheus subsystem for supplies and services and a separate subsystem for public works, both reached through eprocurement.gov.gr. Bidders register on ESIDIS to submit offers; Greek companies authenticate with their tax credentials and foreign companies follow the separate registration route described on the portal. Bids are signed with a qualified electronic signature.[6][10][14]

Procedures and thresholds

Above and below the EU thresholds Greece uses the ανοικτή διαδικασία (open procedure), the κλειστή διαδικασία (restricted procedure), the ανταγωνιστική διαδικασία με διαπραγμάτευση (competitive procedure with negotiation), the ανταγωνιστικός διάλογος (competitive dialogue), the σύμπραξη καινοτομίας (innovation partnership) and, in limited cases, negotiation without prior publication. Below the thresholds there are also simpler routes: the συνοπτικός διαγωνισμός (summary tender) up to € 60.000, and the απευθείας ανάθεση (direct award) up to € 30.000, or € 60.000 for works and engineering and design services. Very small purchases (ήσσονος αξίας) can be paid against an invoice without a formal procedure. Framework agreements are common in health and IT.[2][3][4][8]

Documents and language

Bidders submit the European Single Procurement Document (ΕΕΕΣ in Greek), which in Greece counts as a formal solemn declaration, together with the technical and financial offer in separate electronic envelopes. A participation guarantee (εγγύηση συμμετοχής) of up to 2% of the estimated contract value is usually required. The provisional winner then submits supporting documents (δικαιολογητικά κατακύρωσης) such as criminal record extracts, tax and social security clearance certificates, registration in the professional or commercial register and, for works, registration in the relevant contractors' register. Bids are in Greek; documents from abroad generally need an official translation into Greek, and public documents may need an apostille, as set out in the tender notice (διακήρυξη).[1][10]

Deadlines, award and challenges

For an open procedure above the EU thresholds the minimum period for bids is 35 days from sending the notice to the EU Publications Office, shortened in specific cases such as a prior information notice, urgency or electronic submission. Below the thresholds the open procedure requires at least 15 days from publication in the ΚΗΜΔΗΣ (10 days in urgency), and a summary tender at least 10 days. Contracts are awarded on the most economically advantageous tender. For contracts above the direct award limits, a pre-litigation appeal (προδικαστική προσφυγή) to ΕΑΔΗΣΥ is mandatory before going to court, within 10 days of electronic notification of the decision, or within 15 days of publication in the ΚΗΜΔΗΣ for appeals against the tender notice. The appeal fee is 0,5% of the contract value (minimum € 600, maximum € 15.000); the award only becomes final once the appeal period has passed.[4][5][7][17]

How to win a tender in Greece

Greek contracts go to the most economically advantageous tender, either on lowest price or on the best quality-price ratio. The law fixes the formulas: for supplies and general services, technical criteria are scored between 100 and 120 points (up to 150 if the documents allow) and the technical weight lies between 60 and 80, with price taking 20 to 40. For design studies and technical services price normally weighs 30%. The evaluation committee must give a full, specific reasoning for each score, which makes its minutes a valuable source. Submit clarification requests through ESIDIS in good time: the buyer must then answer at least six days before the deadline, and the answers become part of the tender documents. Research the buyer in ΚΗΜΔΗΣ, the central register of requests, notices, awards and contracts, and on Diavgeia, where public bodies publish their decisions. Write in Greek, follow the διακήρυξη exactly and answer each criterion so the committee can award points above the base score. Bids fail on a missing or wrong participation guarantee, errors in the ΕΕΕΣ, price information in the technical envelope, late submission and unjustified abnormally low prices. Read the committee minutes after each stage: a pre-litigation appeal to ΕΑΔΗΣΥ must follow within 10 days of notification.[12][13][14][15]

1. Check the scoring formula and weights in the διακήρυξη before writing.
2. Send clarification requests through ESIDIS early enough to get a binding answer.
3. Search ΚΗΜΔΗΣ and Diavgeia for the buyer's earlier awards and decisions.
4. Answer each criterion so it earns points above the base score of 100.
5. Check the participation guarantee and keep prices out of the technical envelope.
6. Read the committee minutes and appeal to ΕΑΔΗΣΥ within 10 days if needed.

Clarification round: Αιτήματα παροχής διευκρινίσεων (requests for clarification)

Tips for bidders

Register on ESIDIS and set up a qualified electronic signature well before the deadline; registration for foreign companies takes extra steps. Read the διακήρυξη closely for envelope structure, the participation guarantee and the required documents, and follow the standard tender documents published by ΕΑΔΗΣΥ. Use the clarification period: questions must be asked in time for the authority to answer before the deadline. If you disagree with tender conditions, appeal within 15 days of the ΚΗΜΔΗΣ publication rather than after the award. Search the ΚΗΜΔΗΣ for past awards and direct contracts to understand buyers and prices. Plan certified Greek translations of company documents early.[7][9][10][14]

Platforms in Greece

Share of the 4,972 TED notices from 2025 whose documents sit on this platform.

• ESIDIS55.2%

  Greek operators register with TAXISnet credentials, EU and non-EU firms via separate registration applications; separate subsystems for works and for supplies/services.

  How it works →

• ESIDIS Promitheus5.3%

  Register as an economic operator in ESIDIS (Greek tax number or EU VAT route); goods/services and public works use separate subsystems for bidding.

  How it works →Website

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Law 4412/2016 (consolidated text, TaxHeaven legal database)
2. Law 4412/2016 Art. 118 – Direct award
3. Law 4412/2016 Art. 117 – Summary tender
4. Law 4412/2016 Art. 27 – Open procedure
5. Law 4412/2016 Art. 121 – Time limits below the EU thresholds
6. Law 4412/2016 Art. 36 – Mandatory use of ESIDIS
7. Law 4412/2016 Art. 361 and 363 – Appeal deadline and fee
8. Law 4782/2021 Art. 48 – Procedures below the EU thresholds
9. Ενιαία Αρχή Δημοσίων Συμβάσεων (ΕΑΔΗΣΥ)
10. ESIDIS / eprocurement.gov.gr portal
11. EUR-Lex – Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2152 (thresholds 2026–2027)
12. Law 4412/2016 Art. 86 – Award criteria and weighting (TaxHeaven consolidated text)
13. Law 4412/2016 Art. 67 – Supplementary information and clarifications
14. ΚΗΜΔΗΣ – Central Electronic Registry of Public Contracts
15. Diavgeia – publication of public decisions
16. TED – Tenders Electronic Daily (EU notices and award notices)
17. taxheaven.gr

Checked on 15 October 2026. Made by TenderRender from official sources. Not legal advice: check the notice and documents of each tender.

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