Technical and Professional Ability

Technical and professional ability is the delivery-focused pillar of selection criteria. Where economic and financial standing tests whether a supplier has the financial resources to perform, technical and professional ability tests whether it has the operational capability: the skills, experience, systems, and equipment to actually do the work. Both must be satisfied for a supplier to progress to the award stage.

What is Technical and Professional Ability?

Article 58(4) of Directive 2014/24/EU lists the means by which contracting authorities may require suppliers to demonstrate technical and professional ability. The permitted means vary depending on whether the contract is for works, supplies, or services, and include the following:

References for past contracts. For services and works, buyers may require a list of deliveries or services performed during the past three to five years, with values, dates, and the names of the public or private recipients. This is the most commonly requested evidence. See relevant experience requirement.

Key personnel qualifications. The educational and professional qualifications of key staff, particularly those responsible for managing and delivering the contract. See key staff qualifications.

Technical facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. A description of the supplier's technical equipment, tools, and facilities, including quality control and testing equipment.

Quality management systems. Certification to standards such as ISO 9001 or equivalent evidence of quality management capability. See quality assurance standards (ISO 9001).

Environmental management systems. Certification to standards such as ISO 14001 or the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). See environmental management standards (ISO 14001).

Supply chain management and subcontracting. A description of the supply chain, the proportion of the contract the supplier intends to subcontract, and the names of proposed subcontractors, where known. See reliance on other entities.

Workforce and management capacity. The average annual manpower and the number of managerial staff over the last three years.

Contracting authorities must choose criteria that are relevant and proportionate to the subject matter of the contract. Requiring ISO 14001 certification for a stationery supply contract would almost certainly be disproportionate; requiring it for a waste management contract is reasonable.

Why Technical and Professional Ability Matters for Bidders

Technical ability criteria define what evidence you need to prepare before bidding. A supplier without the right references in the right value band, or without the required certifications, will be excluded at the selection stage regardless of how competitive its pricing is.

The most common practical challenge is the reference requirement: buyers often specify minimum contract values for references that newer or smaller suppliers cannot match from prior experience. The strategy in such cases is to consider reliance on other entities, consortium arrangements, or targeting smaller lots where the reference thresholds are lower.

Example

A Finnish environmental consultancy bids for a national environmental impact assessment framework. The selection criteria require: at least three completed EIA assignments in the past five years, each with a value of at least EUR 200,000; ISO 14001 certification; and a named project director with at least ten years of relevant experience. A consultancy that has delivered two qualifying EIA contracts fails the reference count threshold and is excluded, even if both contracts were exemplary in quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can experience from work done as a subcontractor count as a reference?

It depends on the wording of the selection criteria. Some buyers accept subcontractor references; others require references for contracts where the bidder was the prime contractor. If the procurement documents are ambiguous, raise the question through the official Q and A channel before submitting.

Can a consortium pool technical references across members?

Yes. In a consortium, each member's references can be aggregated to meet the collective technical requirements. However, the member whose references are used must be the one responsible for delivering that part of the contract, otherwise the reference is meaningless as a capability signal.

What evidence format is required for technical references?

Most buyers require references to be provided in the selection questionnaire, naming the client, the contract value, the delivery period, and a contact for verification. Some buyers contact references directly; others rely on the self-certification in the ESPD and verify only for the winning bidder.