The Public Tenders for products/services concern government procurement. They are the purchases carried out by various agencies such as:
- Public services (Ministries, Hospitals, Hellenic Police, Hellenic Army General Staff, Fire Brigade, etc.),
- Local governments (Regions, Prefectures, Municipalities, Communities) and
- Public Utilities (EYDAP, OSE, OASA),
These purchases are made according to specific procedures and include goods, works and services considered necessary for the operation of the above entities.
The Government, like any buyer, carries out a market survey in order to end up with the product of its choice,. However, unlike the private sector, the State does not go from supplier to supplier to find the best offer, but invites suppliers, in the form of a Public Tender, to submit their offers.
In general, government procurement, or Public Sector procurement, is completed with the help of written contracts, "government procurement contracts" or simply "government contracts", as they are called. These are what determine the content and terms of an agreement between an organization (which is the contracting authority) and individuals/businesses (the suppliers).
Since 01/01/2014 it is mandatory to conduct public tenders electronically, through the digital platform of ESIDIS (NATIONAL ELECTRONIC PUBLIC CONTRACTS SYSTEM). In the first phase, it concerns supply and service contracts with a budget of over €60,000 (Law 4155/2013).
Legal Framework for Public Tenders [ESIDIS]
According to Law 4155/2013, starting from 01/01/2014 it has become mandatory to conduct Public Tenders electronically, through the digital platform of ESIDIS (NATIONAL ELECTRONIC PUBLIC PROCUREMENT SYSTEM). The use of ESIDIS is also mandatory for all bodies of the General Government, for the public contracts for studies and provision of related services of Law 3316/2005 (Government Gazette A΄42) starting from 01.07.2015 and for all bodies of the Central Government for public works contracts, starting from 01.12.2015.
The National Electronic Public Procurement System (ESIDIS) is an integrated information system developed at the General Secretariat of Trade (G.G.E.) of the Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping & Tourism, through which, the entire tender process and the monitoring of a public contract will be carried out electronically. In particular, the system already has functions related to the preparation and publication of a tender announcement, the submission of offers by prospective contractors, the evaluation and awarding of the contract.
The basic principles governing Public Tenders and government procurement are a) The principle of Publicity, b) The principle of Transparency, and c) The principle of equal treatment.
The principle of publicity. According to this principle, public purchases must be made known to interested parties through the national press and the Journal of the European Communities. The principle of publicity does not apply to some categories of procurement of extremely low value, which are expressly defined by the Law. In general, the principle of transparency is violated when, during a tender, an interested party who is not participating makes the following finding: "under the new conditions set by the body, I could also take part in the tender".
The principle of equal treatment. The terms of the competition cannot exclude companies from another country or any category of companies from the same country by introducing a policy of discrimination. By ensuring transparent procedures that avoid discrimination, the European directives mainly aim to ensure that financial entities fully enjoy the fundamental freedoms in the context of public procurement competition.
We provide total support to businesses for their participation in Electronic Tenders. See more at www.dimosioi-diagonismoi.gr
Frequently Asked Questions for Public Tenders
What is ESIDIS?
The initials stand for National System of Electronic Public Contracts, and it is the electronic system of the Ministry of Development and Competitiveness through which tenders are submitted by prospective suppliers of the Government.
How can I participate in Public Electronic Tenders?
A condition for the participation of companies in electronic tenders of the Public sector is that the users hold Recognized Digital Certificates from a Certification Provider accredited for their issuance. Only in this way will they be able to digitally sign documents. First of all, in order to obtain the above possibility, it is necessary to have the appropriate reliable device (usb token). Qualified Certificates are created and stored securely in it. Then, the correct installation on a PC is required.
What does the term "electronic bidding" mean?
It is the process of submission of bids by prospective suppliers, in accordance with the terms of the electronic tender announcement.
What are the Technical Specifications required in all competitions?
The technical specifications should be drawn up in accordance with what is defined in each announcement and define the minimum necessary features required, in order to meet the needs of the organization.
How can I register in ESIDIS?
For registration, the following procedure is followed: Financial entities, through the system website (www.promitheus.gov.gr), and from the link "Register as a financial entity", request their registration in it (providing the necessary information and accepting its terms of use) identifying themselves as follows:
Those of the above who have a Greek Tax Registration Number (AFM) are identified using the credentials (username and password) they possess from the TAXISNet system of the General Secretariat of Information Systems. Once the identification is made, the user's registration is approved by the Planning and Data Department of the Procurement Policy Directorate of the General Directorate of State Procurement.
What should I pay attention to when submitting an offer to ESIDIS?
It is recommended that you carefully read each announcement and give extra gravity to all points of the competition. For example, it is necessary to know the acceptable dates within which the supporting documents must have been issued, or if a signature and seal of the company is required on the supporting documents, etc.
What should I do in case there are "ambiguities in a tender?"
For any points where it is not clear what exactly is required by the Contracting Authority, it is recommended that the company contact the Contracting Authority immediately, in order to provide clarifications. Given that the process of Public Electronic Tenders is relatively new for all parties involved (even for the Tender Awarding Bodies themselves), it is necessary to communicate verbally or even better in writing with the respective responsible - author of the tender regarding the resolution of questions or any clarifications for problems with the process.
After submitting a quotation can I change the prices?
The submission of the offer in the information system is final and no listed information can be changed later.
Can someone see what prices I have declared?
Only after the unsealing of the technical/financial offers, will everyone have access to the information system to check the supporting documents of the participants and to carry out any objection or appeal.
What preparation will be needed to participate in a Public Electronic Tender?
It is important that interested companies wanting to participate in Public Sector tenders, prepare in time to obtain a digital signature and the relevant recognized certificate, as well as be trained in this regard in order to ensure their successful participation in electronic tenders.
