SIMAP (Information System for Public Procurement)

SIMAP (Information System for Public Procurement) is a European Commission web resource that consolidates the reference data and tools needed to understand and participate in EU public procurement. While TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) is the publication platform for procurement notices, SIMAP is the surrounding information infrastructure: CPV codes, standard procurement forms, threshold values, legal text, and guidance for both buyers and suppliers.

What is SIMAP?

SIMAP provides several practical resources that buyers and suppliers use throughout the procurement lifecycle:

CPV code browser. The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is the mandatory classification system for EU procurement notices. SIMAP hosts the authoritative CPV code tree, allowing buyers to identify the correct code for their procurement subject matter and suppliers to look up the codes that cover their products and services. Correct CPV coding is essential for notices to reach the right audience through TED alerts.

Standard forms and eForms guidance. SIMAP provides the official standard forms used for above-threshold notices under the EU procurement directives (2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU, 2014/23/EU, and 2009/81/EC). Since the introduction of eForms as the mandatory format from October 2023, SIMAP has provided guidance documents and schema references to help buyers and eSender services transition.

Threshold values. Current EU procurement thresholds are published on SIMAP. These thresholds, updated every two years by the European Commission, determine whether a contract must be advertised on TED. The values differ by directive, buyer type (central government versus sub-central), and contract type (supplies, services, works).

Country-specific information. SIMAP provides links to national eProcurement platforms, national transposition information, and contact points for national authorities responsible for procurement policy in each member state and EEA country.

Legislation and guidance. SIMAP links to the full text of EU procurement directives and implementing regulations, as well as interpretive guidance documents from the European Commission.

Why it matters for bidders

SIMAP is the reference source for getting CPV classification right. A notice published with an incorrect or overly broad CPV code will not appear in the TED Search alerts of suppliers who should receive it. Equally, a supplier who sets up TED alerts using imprecise CPV codes will miss relevant opportunities. SIMAP's CPV browser is the tool for resolving CPV coding ambiguity.

The threshold values on SIMAP tell suppliers at what contract value an opportunity must appear on TED. Contracts below threshold may be advertised nationally or not at all, depending on member state rules, so understanding thresholds helps suppliers direct their monitoring effort appropriately.

Example

A Swedish cleaning services company wants to ensure their TED alerts capture relevant opportunities. They use the SIMAP CPV browser to identify that CPV 90910000 (cleaning services) and its sub-codes cover their work. They also check the current services threshold on SIMAP to confirm that contracts below EUR 221,000 for sub-central authorities need not appear on TED, calibrating their expectations for which opportunities will be visible there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SIMAP the same as TED?

No. SIMAP provides reference information and tools (CPV codes, forms, thresholds, guidance), while TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) is the publication system for procurement notices. They complement each other: buyers use SIMAP to prepare correct notices and then submit them to TED.

Who maintains SIMAP?

SIMAP is maintained by the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission, in cooperation with the Publications Office of the EU, which operates TED.

Where do I find the current EU procurement thresholds?

Current threshold values are published on SIMAP and are updated every two years by European Commission regulation. The TED Publication Office also provides links to the current thresholds on its guidance pages.