If a project is being realized for or by a government agency, then legal regulations apply regarding the carrying out or ‘putting out to tender’ of the project. In Europe, above certain threshold amounts, it is even necessary that projects are ‘put out to tender in Europe’ by, for example, announcing and publishing in the publications of the European Union. Through such regulations the government wants to prevent instances of building fraud and encourage a situation in which several suppliers are able to bid.
Even if a project does not come out above the legal threshold amounts, and there is thus no legal obligation to put out to tender, it can still be prudent to do the tendering process at least in a ‘transparent way’. This means that you take steps to communicate with every supplier in a clear and transparent way, so that no semblance of conflict of interest can arise at all.
The challenge is to find a good balance every time you put out to tender between, on the one hand, the necessity to put out to tender and, on the other hand, the desire to be able to carry on working practically and smoothly. The staff from the ‘Permits and regulations’ department know all aspects of the various procedures and regulations, both in the field of national and pan-European tendering processes. They can also advise you on basic principles and working methods for ‘putting out to tender transparently’ and if desired supervise your whole project.
Deploying this practical knowledge ensures fulfillment of our company slogan: ‘well-considered and complete’.