The award decision
The decision must say who won, why, and how long the standstill lasts. You can request the winning bid and the evaluation, since bids become public after the decision, except for confidential information. Read the evaluation even if you will not appeal: it shows where you lost points.
Standstill
- 10 days if the decision was sent electronically, 15 days otherwise.
- The buyer may not sign the contract during the standstill.
- An appeal extends it until the court has ruled, plus 10 days.
- There is no standstill for direct awards.
How to appeal
Apply to the administrative court (förvaltningsrätten) where the buyer is based before the standstill ends. State which decision you want changed, what the buyer did wrong under LOU and how it harmed you or risks harming you. There is no court fee, but each side pays its own costs. How often each buyer's tenders are appealed is shown on the buyer pages.
If the contract was signed without a tender, its validity can be challenged within six months, or 30 days after a contract award notice. Damages must be claimed within a year.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the standstill period in Sweden?
- 10 days from an electronically sent award decision, otherwise 15 days.
- What does an appeal cost?
- There is no court fee. Each party pays its own costs, such as a lawyer.
This guide is a general description, not legal advice. Laws and amounts can change; the Swedish National Agency for Public Procurement (Upphandlingsmyndigheten) has the latest figures.