EU Below-Threshold Procurement: The SME Guide to National Public Contracts

What Are the EU Procurement Thresholds?

EU Directive 2014/24/EU applies only above certain contract value thresholds, which the European Commission revises every two years. The thresholds effective from 1 January 2024 are:

Contracts below these values fall outside the EU Directives and are governed by each member state's national procurement rules — which vary considerably.

National Thresholds and Publication Requirements

Every EU member state sets its own national rules for below-EU-threshold procurement. Most require publication on a national portal above a national minimum threshold (typically €25,000–€75,000 for services). Below this national minimum, direct quotation or direct award procedures are generally permitted.

Why Below-Threshold Is Attractive for SMEs

• Less competition. Large multinational suppliers typically focus on above-threshold TED contracts. Below-threshold tenders attract primarily domestic and regional suppliers, reducing the competitive field significantly.
• Simpler procedures. Negotiated and simplified procedures are permitted below threshold, meaning fewer mandatory documents, shorter submission deadlines, and more direct contact with buyers.
• Faster award. Below-threshold contracts can be awarded in weeks rather than the months required for full open procedures above EU thresholds.
• Reference-building. A portfolio of successfully delivered below-threshold contracts builds the reference base needed to qualify for larger above-threshold opportunities later.
• Framework call-offs. Many national frameworks and DPS instruments operate below EU thresholds — admission provides access to a continuous pipeline of call-off contracts.

How to Find Below-Threshold Contracts

1. Register on national portals. Each target country has one or more national e-procurement portals where below-threshold notices are published. Registration is free. Start with the portals in the table above for your primary target markets.
2. Set up keyword + CPV alerts. Most national portals support email alerts. Configure alerts using your core CPV codes and keywords — even below-threshold notices typically reference CPV codes.
3. Monitor buyer profiles directly. Public authorities often publish their annual procurement plans and upcoming contract notices on their own websites. Target the 10–20 authorities most relevant to your business and bookmark their procurement pages.
4. Join national frameworks and DPS instruments. Many national framework agreements and DPS instruments include below-threshold call-offs — admission provides automatic access to opportunities without individual procurement monitoring.
5. Engage with buyers proactively. Below-threshold procurement often operates through known supplier lists. Introduce your organisation to procurement contacts at target authorities — this is entirely legitimate and expected at the below-threshold market level.

Key Takeaways

• EU procurement thresholds (€143,000 for central government services from Jan 2024) are the trigger for TED publication — contracts below these values are governed by national rules and published on national portals only.
• Below-threshold procurement represents the majority of public contracts by number — TED is not the whole market, it is only the largest contracts.
• Register on the national e-procurement portal for each country you target — these portals are free and publish thousands of below-threshold contract opportunities monthly.
• For SMEs, below-threshold contracts offer a lower-competition entry point into public procurement and a route to build the reference base needed for larger above-threshold bids.
• TFEU Treaty principles (non-discrimination, transparency, proportionality) apply to below-threshold contracts of cross-border interest — even small contracts must be run fairly if they are likely to attract cross-border bids.