Guide
EU procurement thresholds 2026: when contracts must be published on TED
European Union public procurement rules require most above-threshold contracts to be published in Tenders Electronic Daily (TED). Below those thresholds, national rules apply and publication may be optional or handled on national portals. Knowing the thresholds tells you exactly which opportunities you should expect to find on TED — and which ones you will need to hunt for elsewhere.
What the thresholds mean
The EU thresholds are the estimated contract values above which public buyers must follow the full EU procurement directives: advertising in TED, allowing a minimum time limit for bids, and applying transparent award criteria. They are updated every two years by the European Commission and published as a delegated regulation.
The values differ by contracting authority type (central government vs. sub-central bodies) and by category (supplies, services, works, utilities, defence). They are expressed in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to reduce currency volatility, then converted into euro for practical use.
Current thresholds for 2024–2026
As of the 2024 delegated regulation, the main EU thresholds are approximately €5.382 million for public works and €140,000 to €215,000 for supplies and services, depending on whether the buyer is a central government authority or a sub-central body. Utilities and sector-specific rules have their own thresholds, usually higher or treated under separate directive frameworks.
These numbers are revised every two years. Always check the latest official delegated regulation on the European Commission procurement website, because the exact euro conversion can shift with exchange rates.
Why thresholds matter to bidders
Above-threshold contracts are the largest, most structured EU opportunities. They are also the most competitive and procedurally demanding. Because they must be published on TED, they are discoverable by any company in the world — but only if you monitor TED consistently.
Below-threshold contracts are often faster and less formal, but they are published on national portals, buyer websites, or not advertised at all. Many SMEs find their best opportunities just below the threshold, where fewer international bidders are watching.
How to search TED by value and category
TED's advanced search lets you filter notices by estimated contract value, procedure type, CPV code, country, and publication date. Combine a value filter with CPV codes that describe your services or supplies to see only the notices that fit your business.
The most efficient approach is to save a search query and check it weekly, or use a radar that re-runs the query automatically and scores the results for fit.