Above the threshold
| Procedure | How it works |
|---|---|
| Open (öppet förfarande) | Anyone may bid, no negotiation. At least 35 days, 30 with electronic submission. |
| Restricted (selektivt) | Companies apply first; qualified ones are invited to bid, at least five if the number is limited. |
| Competitive procedure with negotiation | Like restricted, but the buyer may negotiate. |
| Competitive dialogue | The buyer develops the solution with selected companies, then asks for final bids. |
| Negotiated without prior publication | Exceptions, such as only one possible supplier or extreme urgency. |
Below the threshold
- Simplified procedure (förenklat förfarande): anyone may bid; negotiation is allowed if the notice says so. The most common procedure in Swedish municipalities.
- Selection procedure (urvalsförfarande): companies apply first and some are invited to bid.
- [Direct award](/guider/direktupphandling/): below SEK 700,000, no notice needed.
Below the threshold the deadline must be reasonable, in practice often two to three weeks.
Dynamic purchasing systems
A dynamic purchasing system is fully electronic and open for its whole term. Unlike a framework agreement, new suppliers can join at any time by meeting the qualification requirements. Each contract is then competed among the suppliers in the system.
Frequently asked questions
- What is förenklat förfarande?
- The simplified procedure used below the EU threshold. Anyone may bid, and the buyer may negotiate if the notice says so.
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.