Mandatory Publication Threshold

Mandatory publication thresholds are the financial triggers that determine which procurement rules apply to a given contract. When the estimated value of a contract reaches or exceeds the applicable threshold, the full suite of EU or UK procurement law obligations kicks in, including mandatory advertisement in pan-European channels, structured procedures, standstill periods, and rights of challenge.

What is a mandatory publication threshold?

The European Commission sets threshold values by Directive and updates them every two years to account for currency movements and special drawing rights calculations. Separate thresholds apply depending on the type of contracting authority and the category of goods, services, or works being procured.

The principal thresholds under Directive 2014/24/EU (the Public Sector Directive) are:

• Central government authorities: approximately EUR 143,000 for supplies and services, EUR 5,538,000 for works.
• Sub-central authorities (regional and local): approximately EUR 221,000 for supplies and services, EUR 5,538,000 for works.
• Light-touch regime services: approximately EUR 750,000 for certain social, health, and educational services.

Under Directive 2014/25/EU (the Utilities Directive), a single higher threshold applies: approximately EUR 443,000 for supplies and services, EUR 5,538,000 for works.

Defence and security procurement under Directive 2009/81/EC uses the same EUR 443,000 / EUR 5,538,000 split.

In the UK, following Brexit, thresholds are denominated in sterling and are set under the Procurement Act 2023. The UK continues to align broadly with the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) thresholds that underpin the EU figures.

Contracting authorities must estimate the full value of a contract (including all options and renewals) before comparing it to the applicable threshold. Artificially splitting contracts to stay below the threshold is prohibited.

Why it matters for bidders

The threshold determines which publication requirement channel applies and, critically, which procedural rights bidders have. Above-threshold contracts are published on the Supplement to the Official Journal (OJ S), are subject to minimum time limits for tendering, carry mandatory standstill periods, and give bidders enforceable rights including the right to debriefing.

Below-threshold contracts follow national publication requirements, which vary considerably. Some national systems are nearly as rigorous as the EU regime; others offer minimal transparency. Knowing the applicable threshold for a target market helps bidders decide which monitoring channels to prioritise.

Example

A Spanish municipality plans to procure IT consultancy services estimated at EUR 180,000 over two years. This exceeds the sub-central threshold of approximately EUR 221,000... wait: at EUR 180,000, it falls below the sub-central threshold, so publication in the OJEU is not required. The municipality publishes on the national platform instead. Had the contract been valued at EUR 250,000, OJEU publication would be mandatory.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do thresholds change?

The European Commission revises thresholds every two years. Changes are published in the Official Journal and take effect on 1 January of the revision year (typically odd-numbered years, e.g. 2024, 2026). Contracting authorities should check the current thresholds at the start of each procurement rather than relying on memory from prior years.

What happens if a contract is awarded below-threshold but its value later rises above it?

Significant modifications that increase a contract's value above the threshold trigger fresh procurement obligations. Minor variations that do not substantially alter the contract's character and remain within the permitted modification thresholds (5-10% for supplies and services, 15% for works) do not require a new competition.

Do thresholds apply to individual call-offs under a framework agreement?

No. The threshold assessment applies to the total estimated value of the framework agreement, not to individual call-offs. If the framework value exceeds the threshold, the full procedure applies when setting up the framework, even if individual call-offs are small.