How to bid on a public tender in Romania: a first-timer's guide

The steps at a glance

1. Get a qualified digital certificate and register your company in SEAP (e-licitatie.ro).
2. Watch the notices for your type of work and pick one that fits your size and location.
3. Download the tender documentation and read the data sheet (fișa de date) and the specifications (caiet de sarcini).
4. Check every qualification requirement against your company: turnover, similar works, authorizations, certificates, staff.
5. Ask for clarifications in writing if something is unclear, before the clarification deadline.
6. Prepare the DUAE, the technical offer, the financial offer and any guarantee.
7. Sign with your qualified electronic signature and submit in SEAP well before the deadline.
8. Wait for evaluation. If you rank first, you will be asked for the supporting documents.

What to have ready before the first bid

Three things decide whether you can bid at all, and all three take time to sort out, so start with them.

• A company in good standing: active, with tax and social contributions paid, and no grounds for exclusion.
• A qualified digital certificate for the person who signs, so you can register in SEAP and sign your offers.
• A company file you can reuse: turnover for recent years, a list of similar works with proof of good execution, authorizations, ISO certificates, and the key people you would put on site.

Choosing tenders worth your time

The common mistake of first-time bidders is reading tenders one by one and only then discovering they do not qualify. Screen first, read second.

For construction works, notices carry a main CPV code that starts with 45. Compare the type of works, the estimated value, the place of execution, the deadline and the requirements with what your company can show.

• Type of works: is it work you have done before, at a similar scale?
• Value: is it within what your turnover and equipment can support?
• Requirements: do you meet the minimum turnover, the number of similar contracts and the required authorizations?
• Guarantee: can you provide the participation guarantee, and later the good execution guarantee?
• Time: is there enough time left to prepare a careful offer?

What the tender documentation contains

Every tender comes with documentation published in SEAP. The parts that matter most are the data sheet, which sets the qualification criteria, the deadlines and how the winner is chosen, and the specifications, which describe the works to be done.

You will also find the forms to fill in and the draft contract. Read the draft contract: payment terms, penalties and the good execution guarantee are decided there.

Submitting the offer

Offers are generally submitted electronically through SEAP and signed with a qualified electronic signature. Do not leave submission to the last hour: uploads, signatures and connections fail at the worst moment, and a late offer is simply not accepted.

If anything in the documentation is unclear, ask the contracting authority in writing. Answers are published for all bidders, and questions must be sent before the clarification deadline stated in the notice.

After you submit

The contracting authority checks the offers. In practice, the bidder ranked first is usually asked to provide the documents that prove what was declared in the DUAE. If you win, you sign the contract and provide the good execution guarantee, which by law may be at most 10% of the contract price without VAT.

Bidders who disagree with a decision can file a contestation with the CNSC or in court. These deadlines are short, so check the notice you receive as soon as it arrives.

Small purchases are a way in

Below certain values, contracting authorities may buy directly, including through the electronic catalogue in SEAP, without running a full tender. These thresholds have been changed by law over the years, so check the current figures on the ANAP site. Direct purchases can be a lower-risk way to build a track record of public contracts.

Common questions

Can a new company bid on a public tender in Romania?

Yes. There is no rule that a company must have won public contracts before. In practice, many tenders require a minimum turnover and similar completed works, so a new company usually starts with smaller tenders, with an association with a partner, or with the support of another entity.

Do I need a digital signature to bid?

Yes. You need a qualified digital certificate to register in SEAP and a qualified electronic signature to sign your offer.

Where do I find Romanian public tenders?

On SEAP (SICAP), at e-licitatie.ro, the official platform. Tenders above the EU thresholds are also published on TED.

How do I know if a tender is right for my company?

Compare the qualification requirements in the data sheet with your company's turnover, similar works, authorizations and staff before you read the rest. Tools like Licits do this comparison for every new notice.

Sources and official references

• SEAP / SICAP (e-licitatie.ro)
• ANAP, Agenția Națională pentru Achiziții Publice
• Legislație consolidată (legislatie.just.ro)
• CNSC, Consiliul Național de Soluționare a Contestațiilor
• TED, Tenders Electronic Daily
• Garanția de bună execuție: ce este și când se aplică (e-juridic)

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Public procurement rules change, so always check the official sources above and the tender documentation. Reviewed 30 October 2026.