How do public tenders work in Cyprus?

Law and buyers

Cypriot public procurement is governed by Law 73(I)/2016, which transposes Directive 2014/24/EU, with separate laws for utilities (140(I)/2016), concessions (11(I)/2017) and defence (173(I)/2011). Review procedures are set out in Law 104(I)/2010, amended in 2025. The Public Procurement Directorate of the Treasury is the Competent Authority for Public Procurement: it issues regulations, circulars, policy directions and standard tender documents and runs the e-procurement system. Contracting authorities include ministries and departments, municipalities and communities, semi-government organisations such as utilities and the health services, and public universities. The Treasury's Central Purchasing Unit runs framework agreements and dynamic purchasing systems for, according to the Directorate, 356 public bodies.[1][2][5][11]

Where tenders are published

The Cyprus eProcurement System (e-PPS, eprocurement.gov.cy), owned by the Public Procurement Directorate, is where Cypriot calls for tenders are published and bids submitted; a new version of the system went live on 3 February 2026 at the same address. Contracts at or above the EU thresholds are also published in the Official Journal of the EU (TED), and below-threshold contract notices are published in the Official Gazette of the Republic and may also appear in the local press. Economic operators register on e-PPS to download full tender documents, ask clarification questions and submit bids; existing accounts carried over to the new system. Contract award notices for below-threshold contracts are also published on the e-procurement system.[1][4][6]

Procedures and thresholds

Above the EU thresholds Cyprus uses the open procedure, the restricted procedure, the competitive procedure with negotiation, the competitive dialogue, the innovation partnership and, in limited cases, the negotiated procedure without prior publication. The open procedure dominates. Part V of Law 73(I)/2016 sets simpler national rules for contracts below the EU thresholds: an open procedure with a notice in the Official Gazette, and summary procedures under which a contracting authority may award directly up to € 7.000 or request offers from a limited number of companies of its choice up to € 25.000 (excluding VAT). Framework agreements, dynamic purchasing systems and the e-catalogues of the Central Purchasing Unit are common for standard supplies.[1][5]

Documents and language

Bidders usually submit the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD, in Greek ΕΕΕΣ) as preliminary evidence, together with the technical and financial offer and, where required, a tender guarantee (εγγυητική επιστολή συμμετοχής). The winning bidder then provides supporting evidence such as a certificate of registration from the Registrar of Companies, criminal record certificates, and tax and social insurance clearance certificates, or equivalent documents for foreign companies. The language of the bid is set in the tender documents; Cypriot tender documents are normally in Greek and often accept English for the offer or certain documents. Documents in other languages generally need a translation into the accepted language.[1][9]

Deadlines, award and challenges

For an open procedure above the EU thresholds the minimum time limit is 35 days from sending the contract notice, shortened in specific cases such as a prior information notice, urgency or electronic submission. For a below-threshold open procedure the minimum is 14 days from sending the notice to the Official Gazette, or 10 days in urgency. Contracts are awarded on the most economically advantageous tender. A recourse to the Tender Review Authority (Αναθεωρητική Αρχή Προσφορών) must be filed within 15 calendar days of the day after the decision was sent electronically (10 days from receipt otherwise), or within 10 days of publication for challenges to tender documents; the contract cannot be signed during that period. The review procedure applies to contracts above the EU thresholds and to works below them valued at € 1.000.000 or more. Decisions can be challenged before the Administrative Court.[1][2][3][7]

How to win a tender in Cyprus

Cyprus awards contracts to the most economically advantageous tender, which may be identified on price, cost or the best price-quality ratio, and the lowest compliant price is common for standard supplies. Read the award method in the tender documents first: if price decides, put your effort into flawless compliance; if quality is scored, answer each criterion with specific methods, staff and references. Submit questions through the e-PPS system before the end of the clarification period shown in the competition; answers are shared with all participants and can change how you price. Research the buyer through its earlier competitions and award notices on e-PPS, the Central Purchasing Unit's framework agreements and TED. Cypriot documents are normally in Greek and often accept English for the offer or some documents, so check the accepted language before writing. Bids fail on late submission, a missing or incorrectly worded tender guarantee, documents that do not follow the required format, and abnormally low prices that you cannot explain. Deadlines for challenges are strict: contest unlawful tender conditions within 10 days of publication, and an award decision within the recourse period to the Tender Review Authority. Under the EU rules you can also ask for the reasons for rejecting your bid.[5][6][7][9]

1. Check whether the award is on lowest price or on price and quality.
2. Ask questions on e-PPS before the end of the clarification period.
3. Review the buyer's earlier competitions and award notices on e-PPS.
4. Confirm the accepted language and prepare the tender guarantee in the required wording.
5. Challenge unlawful conditions within 10 days of publication, not after award.
6. Request the reasons for rejection and the winner's relative advantages in writing.

Clarification round: Clarifications (διευκρινίσεις) via e-PPS

Tips for bidders

Register on eprocurement.gov.cy early and follow the user guides and summary guides published by the Directorate. Read the tender documents carefully for the accepted language, the required tender guarantee and the award method, since lowest compliant price is common. Submit clarification questions through the system before the deadline set in the documents. Note the strict and non-extendable recourse deadlines: if a tender condition is unlawful, challenge it within 10 days of publication rather than after the award. Monitor the Central Purchasing Unit's framework agreements, as many standard supplies are bought through them. Below-threshold contracts can be small, so check the Official Gazette and e-PPS regularly.[2][5][6][11]

Platforms in Cyprus

Share of the 1,161 TED notices from 2025 whose documents sit on this platform.

• Cyprus eProcurement98.9%

  Register your organisation and a supplier administrator on e-PPS before bidding; quick guides cover registration, expressions of interest and tender submission.

  How it works →Website

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. CyLaw – Law 73(I)/2016 on public procurement procedures (consolidated)
2. CyLaw – Law 104(I)/2010 on review procedures in public procurement (consolidated)
3. Public Procurement Directorate – Amendment of Law 104(I)/2010 (Law 189(I)/2025)
4. Public Procurement Directorate – New eProcurement system live on 3 February 2026
5. Public Procurement Directorate – Central Purchasing Unit
6. Cyprus eProcurement System (e-PPS)
7. Tender Review Authority (Αναθεωρητική Αρχή Προσφορών)
8. EUR-Lex – Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2152 (thresholds 2026–2027)
9. EUR-Lex – Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement (Art. 47, 53, 55, 67, 69)
10. TED – Tenders Electronic Daily (EU notices and award notices)
11. publicprocurement.gov.cy

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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