5.6. Competitive negotiated procedure

The Contracting Authority may award contracts under € 300 000 by competitive negotiated procedure, without publication. The Contracting Authority draws up a list of at least three contractors with a justification for its choice. The candidates are sent a letter of invitation to tender accompanied by a tender dossier.

Tenders must reach the Contracting Authority at the address and by no later than the date and time shown in the invitation to tender. The chosen candidates must be allowed at least 30 days from the dispatch of the letter of invitation to tender in which to submit their tenders.

The tenders are opened and evaluated by an Evaluation Committee with the necessary technical and administrative expertise, appointed by the Contracting Authority.

If following consultation of the tenderers, the Contracting Authority receives only one tender that is administratively and technically valid, the contract may be awarded provided that the award criteria are met.

In the event of one failure of the competitive negotiated procedure, the contract may be concluded by negotiated procedure subject to prior approval of the relevant services of the European Commission. The remainder of the procedure (including preparation of the tender dossier, evaluating the tenders and awarding the contract) is the same as under the international open procedure (see points 5.3.2. to 5.3.11.2.). No tender guarantee is required in that case.

The Contracting Authority may award works contracts of a value of € 20 000 or less on the basis of a single tender. See point 2.4.8.