Candidate in Public Procurement
A candidate is an economic operator that has submitted a request to participate in a multi-stage procurement procedure but has not yet submitted a tender.
Definition: A candidate is an economic operator that, in a multi-stage procurement procedure — particularly a restricted procedure or a negotiated procedure with prior call for competition — has submitted a request to participate with the contracting authority and is therefore competing to be invited to tender.
Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU, BVergG 2018, GWB
What is a candidate?
The candidate stands at the start of a multi-stage procurement procedure: by submitting a request to participate, they have expressed interest in taking part but have not yet been invited to submit a tender. The term "candidate" must be kept strictly separate from "bidder" (one who has already submitted a tender) and "contractor" (one to whom the contract has been awarded). The candidate role only exists in procurement procedures that include an upstream call for competition.
Significance in the procurement procedure
Procedurally, the candidate role is the first step of active participation in a restricted or negotiated procedure: the contracting authority uses the call for competition to select, from the pool of interested operators, those that meet the selection requirements. Only the selected candidates are invited at the second stage to submit a tender; all other candidates drop out of the procedure.
The request to participate typically contains suitability evidence (economic standing, technical ability, authorisation) together with the required declarations. The contracting authority examines this evidence as part of the suitability check and — where more candidates meet the minimum than are needed — selects a limited number for invitation to tender according to the selection criteria announced in advance.
The precise demarcation of the procedural roles:
- Candidate: Has submitted a request to participate; awaiting suitability assessment and invitation to tender.
- Bidder (tenderer): Has, following invitation, submitted a tender.
- Contractor: Has been awarded the contract.
Related terms
Last updated: January 2026 Information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement.
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