Expression of Interest

An expression of interest (EOI) is a supplier's signal to a contracting authority that it is interested in a forthcoming or current procurement opportunity. It sits at the earliest stage of supplier engagement: less formal than a request to participate and much less formal than a tender. EOIs are used in a variety of procurement contexts across Europe, from early market sounding to formal pre-qualification processes in the utilities sector.

What is an Expression of Interest?

The term "expression of interest" does not have a single, uniform definition in EU directive law, but it appears in several distinct procurement contexts.

Prior information notice responses. When a contracting authority publishes a prior information notice as a call for competition, it may invite interested suppliers to express their interest in participating. These responses confirm that the market is aware of the opportunity and help the authority gauge demand before issuing the formal invitation.

Qualification system applications. In the utilities sector, an EOI may be the first step in applying to a qualification system. The utility invites EOIs to populate an initial list, which then feeds into the formal qualification assessment.

Market engagement. During preliminary market engagement and market consultation phases, buyers may invite EOIs to identify capable suppliers and shape procurement requirements before a formal procedure begins.

Below-threshold procurement. Many national and sub-national contracting authorities use informal EOI processes for below-threshold contracts, where the full EU procedure rules do not apply but competitive selection is still required under national rules.

In all cases, an EOI is a lower-commitment signal than an RTP. It typically contains basic company information, a statement of capability, and a confirmation of interest. It rarely requires the full evidential burden of a formal selection questionnaire.

Why it matters for bidders

EOIs are often the first opportunity to get on a buyer's radar for a significant contract. They may lead directly to an invitation to participate in a restricted or negotiated procedure, or to selection for a pre-market engagement session that gives you valuable insight into the buyer's requirements before the formal procedure begins.

Being responsive to EOI invitations matters: buyers use EOI responses to assess market interest and sometimes to determine which procedure is appropriate. A strong EOI response from a well-qualified supplier can position you favourably when the formal procedure opens.

Example

A Norwegian local authority plans to procure mental health support services and publishes a notice on the national portal inviting expressions of interest from specialist providers. It receives fourteen EOIs. Based on the responses, it determines that sufficient qualified providers exist to run a restricted procedure and proceeds to publish a formal contract notice. Suppliers who submitted an EOI have already introduced their organisation to the authority and may receive targeted outreach when the ITT is ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an expression of interest legally binding on the supplier?

No. An EOI is a non-binding indication of interest. Submitting an EOI does not commit you to submitting a formal RTP or tender if the procedure opens. However, repeated submission of EOIs followed by non-participation in procedures may affect how authorities perceive your reliability as a bidder.

Does submitting an EOI guarantee an invitation to tender?

No. An EOI is a necessary but not sufficient step. You still need to meet the selection criteria in the formal Stage 1 assessment to be shortlisted. The EOI simply signals interest; the RTP demonstrates capability.

Are EOIs published on TED?

Not typically. EOI invitations may be published on buyer profile pages, national procurement portals, or as supplementary documents attached to a prior information notice on TED, but EOI responses are not published.

Can a buyer use EOIs to informally pre-select suppliers before a formal procedure?

No. Pre-selection that restricts which suppliers can participate in a formal procurement procedure, without going through the lawful selection process, is a procurement breach. EOIs inform planning; they cannot lawfully substitute for the formal selection stage.