Open Procedure: Complete Guide

What is an open procedure?

The open procedure is the most commonly used European procurement procedure in the Netherlands. In an open procedure, any interested economic operator may submit a tender. There is no pre-selection; selection and award take place simultaneously based on submitted tenders.

When to use?

The open procedure is suitable when the contract can be clearly defined in specifications, there are sufficient market parties, no negotiation is needed, and maximum transparency is required.

Process steps

Step 1: Preparation (4-8 weeks)

Needs assessment, market research, procurement strategy, drafting specifications, and creating the evaluation matrix.

Step 2: Publication

Publication on TenderNed with automatic forwarding to the Official Journal of the EU (TED). All procurement documents are made available electronically.

Step 3: Tender period (minimum 35 days)

Minimum 35 days from publication (30 days for electronic submission). Questions can be asked and are answered through a Clarification Note.

Step 4: Evaluation

After the deadline: completeness check, exclusion grounds verification, suitability assessment, and award criteria evaluation.

Step 5: Award decision

Written notification to all tenderers with justification, followed by a standstill period of at least 20 calendar days.

Step 6: Contract conclusion

After the standstill period (provided no objections), final evidence is requested and the contract is signed.

Timeline