Electronic Procurement (e-Procurement) in Public Procurement 2026

Definition: Electronic procurement (e-procurement) refers to the fully digital handling of procurement procedures – from the notice through the electronic provision of procurement documents and digital communication to electronic bid submission and opening – on the basis of binding EU-law requirements.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: Art. 22 Directive 2014/24/EU, § 97(5) GWB, § 11 VgV, § 11a VgV, §§ 80 et seq. BVergG 2018

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What is electronic procurement (e-procurement)?

E-procurement is today the legally prescribed standard form of public contract awarding above the EU thresholds and requires a complete digitisation of the procurement process. EU Directive 2014/24/EU obliged Member States to handle all procurement procedures electronically by October 2018 (central purchasing bodies) and by October 2018 (other public contracting authorities) at the latest. Since then, contracting authorities must provide procurement documents electronically, conduct communication electronically, and receive bids electronically.

E-procurement serves to increase transparency, efficiency, and traceability in public procurement and at the same time reduces the administrative burden for contracting authorities and bidders.

Legal foundations

The requirement for electronic procurement arises from EU directives and their national transposition, with the specific technical requirements set out in implementing rules.

EU level

• Art. 22 Directive 2014/24/EU – Principle of electronic communication
• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1780 – eForms Regulation (new standard forms)

Germany

• § 97(5) GWB – Principle of electronic procurement
• § 11 VgV – Electronic communication
• § 11a VgV – Requirements for procurement platforms

Austria

• §§ 80–84 BVergG 2018 – Electronic means and communication
• E-Government Act (E-GovG)

Core elements of e-procurement

E-procurement covers all steps of the procurement procedure in digital form.

1. Electronic notice

Publication of the contract notice via national procurement platforms or directly in the EU's TED portal. From 25 October 2023, the new eForms standard forms are mandatory for EU-wide notices.

2. Electronic provision of procurement documents

Contracting authorities must make all procurement documents (specification of works, contract conditions, forms) available free of charge and in full via a procurement platform or their buyer profile.

3. Electronic communication

Bidder questions, answers, clarifications, and information must in principle be transmitted electronically. Exceptions (e.g. physical site visits) are possible but must be justified.

4. Electronic bid submission

Bidders transmit their bid in encrypted form via the procurement platform. The bid is only opened by the contracting authority after expiry of the bid submission deadline (electronic submission). The encryption must ensure that bids cannot be viewed before the deadline expires.

5. Electronic opening

The opening of bids takes place digitally on the platform and is logged (electronic opening protocol).

Important e-procurement platforms

Germany

• DTVP (German Procurement Portal)
• Vergabe24
• evergabe.de
• Deutsche eVergabe
• Bund.de/Vergaben (Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior)
• Cosinex

Austria

• eVA (electronic procurement application system)
• Lieferanzeiger
• Vergabe Ö

EU-wide

• TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) – for EU-wide notices
• ESPD/eESPD – for self-declarations

Exceptions to the e-procurement requirement

In certain exceptional cases, deviation from full electronic handling is permitted. Permissible exceptions under Art. 22(1) Directive 2014/24/EU include, among others, particularly sensitive information subject to special security requirements, or the need for physical models. Below the EU thresholds, contracting authorities may also still permit analogue procedural steps under certain circumstances.

FAQ

Do bidders need to use special software for e-procurement? Bidders generally need free access to the respective procurement platform and, where applicable, an electronic signature. Specific software requirements vary depending on the platform.

What is the difference between e-procurement and eForms? E-procurement refers to the entire digital procurement procedure. eForms are the electronic standard forms binding since 2023 for EU-wide procurement notices.

Is e-procurement also mandatory below the EU thresholds? The EU-law obligation only applies above the EU thresholds. Below the thresholds, many countries recommend e-procurement; some have introduced it as mandatory nationally.

What happens if a contracting authority does not comply with e-procurement? Non-compliance with the e-procurement obligation can lead to a breach of the transparency principle and the principle of equal treatment and result in review procedures.

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Last updated: January 2026 All information provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.