Public procurement: Answering a call for tenders
Public procurement represents a significant part of the Swiss economy. Here is a guide for SMEs interested in answering a call for tenders.
To stimulate competition and guarantee equal opportunities for all businesses, it is important for access to public procurement to be as transparent as possible. Even more so since public procurement carries considerable weight in the Swiss economy: the needs of the Confederation alone amounted, in 2018, to CHF 5.55 billion of construction work, goods and services.
Facilitated procedures
In this context, the possibilities for standardization offered by the Internet are considerable. The platform simap.ch, used by the Confederation, cantons and communes, facilitates procedures, both for public authorities as well as private companies interested in answering a call for tenders.
Preventing corruption
The Federal Council does its utmost to prevent cases of corruption in the federal administration. Public procurement constitutes one of the most sensitive areas in preventing corruption. The new Ordinance on Public Procurement (effective 1 January 2021) provides for strict measures on conflicts of interest and corruption (art. 3). In addition, the contracting authority may set rules of conduct in its general terms and conditions or in the contract binding it to the bidder: integrity clauses, penalty clauses, measures to ensure lawful commercial processes, etc.
Source: Website of the Swiss Federal Procurement Conference (Beschaffungskonferenz des Bundes BKB), 15.10.2020
Learn more
Definition: What is public procurement?
Public procurement can be seen as a contract between an authority or a public undertaking and a private tenderer. Here is the process explained.
Public procurement abroad
International calls for tender can offer interesting outlets for Swiss SMEs.
Responding to a call for tender
Companies interested in public calls for tender can register on simap.ch and submit various documents. Here is an overview of the steps to follow.
SIMAP: The Swiss public procurement platform
The website simap.ch offers a large number of public calls for tender in which private companies can take part. Here is an introduction.
Tendering procedures: Open, selective, calling for bids or private contract
The Federal Act on Public Procurement provides for various tender procedures: open, selective, calling for bids or private contract.