How to participate in the tender
Participating in public procurement procedures requires knowledge of legal procedures, but also awareness of the possibilities of noticing and reporting irregularities. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the key steps and bidder rights.
In order for a bidder to be able to participate in the public procurement procedure in Serbia and obtain a specific job, it is necessary to be registered in the register of bidders, to regularly monitor announcements on the Public Procurement Portal, download the tender documentation that contains all the conditions in order to analyze it, prepare a bid with evidence of economic solvency, capacity and references, perform electronic delivery of the bid through the Public Procurement Portal within the prescribed period, as well as to monitor the completion of the procedure and the award of the contract.
The contracting authority evaluates the offers according to the criteria for awarding the contract, and the results are published publicly on the Public Procurement Portal.
Bidders have the right to monitor and analyze the tender documentation and procedure. The most common irregularities include discriminatory technical specifications, which favor one bidder, unclear criteria for evaluation of bids, irregularities in the publication of tenders or deadlines that are not in accordance with the Law, as well as conditions that limit competition.
The Law on Public Procurement foresees the following mechanisms for the protection of bidders in these cases: the bidder may submit a Request for the Protection of Rights to the Republic Commission for the Protection of Rights in Public Procurement Procedures, usually within 10 days from the publication of the irregularities. By submitting an objection, the procedure can be temporarily suspended until a decision is made, and all decisions of the contracting authority and the commission are public, which enables transparency and control.
Participation in tenders requires discipline, legal information and careful monitoring of procedures. Bidders not only have the right to compete, but also to protect market competition by pointing out irregularities, thus ensuring a fair and transparent public procurement system, which is in the interest of both bidders and the state.
In our law office, Đorđe Gršić, a lawyer with a certificate of public procurement officer, is in charge of cases in the field of public procurement.
