eForms

eForms are the European Union's standardised digital forms for publishing procurement notices. Established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1780, eForms replaced the previous standard forms from 2015 and became mandatory on 25 October 2023 for all notices published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily).

How do eForms work?

When a contracting authority needs to publish a procurement notice, they complete an eForms-based template through their national e-procurement system. The notice is validated and transmitted to TED, where it becomes searchable across all EU/EEA member states. The standard covers 46 notice subtypes spanning the full procurement lifecycle — from prior information notices and calls for competition to contract award notices and results.

eForms are built on a common data model defined in the eForms SDK (Software Development Kit), which enables e-procurement platforms to generate notices in a machine-readable XML format. This means that much of the form can be populated automatically by the procurement system, significantly reducing the administrative burden on contracting authorities.

Key improvements over the old forms

eForms introduce several important changes compared to the previous standard forms:

• Structured, reusable data: A common taxonomy and terminology make it easier to search, filter, and analyse notices across borders
• New mandatory fields: Data on green procurement, EU funding sources, framework agreements, and the Clean Vehicles Directive
• Better data quality: Built-in validation rules ensure that notices contain all required information before publication
• Below-threshold support: National notices below EU threshold values can now be published on TED using dedicated voluntary form types

In EEA countries like Norway, eForms have been implemented through national platforms such as Doffin, which validates notices and forwards above-threshold announcements to TED.

Tools like Cobrief leverage the improved data structure of eForms to help suppliers discover relevant contract notices more efficiently.

eForms represent a major step in the digital transformation of public procurement across the EEA. For suppliers, they mean more standardised and searchable information about business opportunities. For contracting authorities, they provide a stronger foundation for data-driven decision-making and greater transparency.