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Procurement guide

The Public Procurement Process in Hungary

The public procurement process in seven phases, from planning to closure, with the contracting authority's and the tenderer's tasks side by side.

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The phases of a public procurement procedure

We walk through the procedure step by step. Each phase shows what the contracting authority and the tenderer have to do, side by side.

Based on the legislation in force on 1 September 2026.

Which side are you on?
01

Planning and preparation

The procurement procedure has not started yet. This is when the estimated value and the procurement regime are settled. The procurement plan and the procurement regulation also need to be in order now.

As a contracting authority

Setting the framework of the procedure

  • Procurement need and estimated value
  • Determining the threshold and the procurement regime
  • Choosing the procedure type
  • Procurement regulation and annual plan

Key facts

For classical contracting authorities in 2026, a procedure is mandatory from HUF 20 million for goods and services and from HUF 60 million for works.

The estimated value excludes VAT and includes the value of any options.

Common mistake: Purchases that serve the same purpose are not aggregated.

Check the threshold

As a tenderer

Watching for tenders, preparing the company

  • Registering in the EKR (Electronic Public Procurement System)
  • Tracking new notices by CPV code
  • Self-check for exclusion grounds

Key facts

Only a company registered in the EKR can be invited to tender. Registration is free for you.

A company subject to a mandatory exclusion ground cannot be a subcontractor or a capacity-providing organisation either.

Free first report
02

Contract notice and launch

The contracting authority prepares the contract notice and the procurement documents, then launches the procedure in the EKR. The tender period is running.

As a contracting authority

Setting the procurement conditions

  • Contract notice and procurement documents
  • Suitability and evaluation criteria
  • Setting up the evaluation committee
  • Launch in the EKR

Key facts

The EKR system usage fee is HUF 40,000 + VAT, and it must be credited by the time the notice is sent.

Common mistake: For works, the lowest price is chosen as the sole evaluation criterion.

Procedure conduct fees

As a tenderer

Checking suitability, deciding whether to bid

  • Reading the notice and the documents
  • Checking suitability and exclusion grounds
  • Deciding whether to bid

Key facts

As a general rule, references count for the past 3 years, or 5 years for works.

In a national procedure fewer exclusion grounds are mandatory. The contract notice tells you what you have to prove.

Suitability self-check
03

Questions and tendering

Tenderers ask questions and the contracting authority answers. The tender must arrive in the EKR before the deadline expires.

At least 10-30 days

As a contracting authority

Answering questions on time

  • Providing supplementary information
  • Amending the documents if needed
  • Extending the deadline where required

Key facts

Answers are due no later than 6 days before the deadline in an EU procedure, and within a reasonable time in a national one.

Common mistake: Information requested in time arrives late, but the deadline is not extended.

As a tenderer

Putting together a valid tender

  • Asking questions in time
  • Preparing the tender and the declarations
  • Formal and substantive check before submission
  • Submission in the EKR

Key facts

In an EU procedure, a question asked later than the 4th day before the answer deadline does not have to be answered.

The EKR does not accept tenders after the deadline. Opening starts 60 minutes later.

Common mistake: The tender leaves out the declaration that no subcontractor subject to an exclusion ground will be used.

Tender preparation from EUR 475
04

Opening and evaluation

The EKR opens the tenders, and the evaluation committee examines suitability and validity. A deficiency that can be cured may be corrected through rectification.

As a contracting authority

Assessing and evaluating the tenders

  • Checking suitability and validity
  • Requesting rectification, clarification or a price justification
  • Evaluation and decision proposal

Key facts

Rectification must be allowed for every tenderer on equal terms, and the contracting authority sets the deadline.

Common mistake: The available funding is not recorded in the EKR before opening, so a funding shortfall cannot be proven.

As a tenderer

Rectification and defending your tender

  • Rectifying within the set deadline
  • Submitting certificates if yours is the most favourable tender
  • Justifying the price if the contracting authority asks

Key facts

Each deficiency gets one chance. If it is rectified late, the original tender is assessed.

In rectification, neither the total tender price nor the evaluated partial amounts may change.

Rectification and price justification
05

Outcome

The contracting authority decides and sends a written summary to every tenderer. The standstill period runs from that day.

10-day standstill period

As a contracting authority

Making and communicating the decision

  • Taking the decision closing the procedure
  • Sending and publishing the summary in the EKR
  • Answering dispute settlement requests

Key facts

Tenderers must be informed of the outcome within 3 working days of the decision.

If the winner withdraws, the contract may only be concluded with the second-placed tenderer named in the summary.

Calculate the standstill period

As a tenderer

Checking the outcome and the scoring

  • Checking the summary and the scores
  • Deciding on dispute settlement

Key facts

You can request file inspection within 5 days of the summary being sent.

Common mistake: Tenderers wait, and meanwhile the 3-working-day deadline for dispute settlement expires.

06

Contract signature and performance

After the standstill period the parties sign the contract and performance begins. Both must be recorded in the EKR.

As a contracting authority

Signing the contract and tracking performance

  • Signing the contract with the winner
  • Publishing the contract through the EKR
  • Documenting and recording performance

Key facts

Performance data must be recorded in the EKR within 30 days.

As a general rule, a notice of a contract modification must be submitted within 5 working days.

Common mistake: When evaluated commitments are not delivered, the claim for breach of contract is not enforced.

As a tenderer

Performing on the terms you offered

  • Signing the contract on the terms of your tender
  • Notifying subcontractors in advance
  • Performing as committed

Key facts

As the winner, your tender commitment period is extended by 30 days from the summary, or by 60 days for works.

Support during performance
07

Closure

The procedure ends with the notices and the retention of records. For the tenderer, the completed contract becomes a reference.

As a contracting authority

Formally closing the procedure

  • Sending the outcome notice for publication
  • Organising and keeping the records

Key facts

The outcome notice must be sent for publication within 20 days of the contract being signed.

Records must be kept for at least five years from the outcome notice.

Common mistake: After an unsuccessful procedure the outcome notice is skipped, although it is mandatory there too.

As a tenderer

A reference for the next procedure

  • Requesting a reference certificate from the contracting authority
  • Watching for new tenders

Key facts

A reported serious breach of contract can be a discretionary exclusion ground for 3 years.

Which phase can we help with?

We work for both contracting authorities and tenderers, on a full procedure or on individual tasks. Our fees are published up front.

  1. For contracting authorities, from planning to closure

    Preparing and running the procedure up to contract signature: procurement regulation and plan, contract notice and suitability criteria, EKR administration, rectification and the summary. Procurement consulting for contracting authorities →

  2. For tenderers, from tender to contract

    Preparing a valid tender and checking it before submission, rectification, justifying an abnormally low price, and checking exclusion grounds. Bid preparation for tenderers →

  3. Weekly watch for new tenders

    Every week we review the new procurement notices published in the EKR, and a written report tells you which tenders your company already qualifies for, or what it would need to obtain. Public tender monitoring →

  4. If you dispute the notice or the decision

    Preparing requests for preliminary dispute settlement and remedy applications to the Public Procurement Arbitration Board. Legal remedies and dispute resolution →

Pricing

What does our help cost?

We publish our fees up front, so you know what to expect before you engage us.

  1. First consultation and needs assessment

    Free

  2. Full procedure for contracting authorities

    0.3-1.5% of estimated valueMin. EUR 1,500-3,500

  3. Tender preparation

    From EUR 475

  4. Ad-hoc consulting

    EUR 50/hour

Exact quotations are provided upon specific request. We also take on sub-tasks, at lower rates. Prices shown are indicative and do not include VAT.

See our full pricing →

101 clients since 1996

We have worked on the procurements of municipalities, state institutions and companies, on both the contracting authority and the tenderer side.

Full list of references Free consultation

Common questions about the public procurement procedure

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István Zsolt Benkó

István Zsolt Benkó

Lead Public Procurement Expert

Leading our practice since 1996, with over 30 years of professional experience in public procurement and project management.

30+ Years of Experience Public Procurement Expert Independent Contractor

Direct mobile +36-20-424-5411

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