indicative notice

An indicative notice is a type of advance notification used primarily in utilities procurement (such as energy, water, and transport) to inform the market about planned purchases. While similar to a prior information notice, the indicative notice is specifically associated with the EU Utilities Directive and serves as a periodic summary of upcoming procurement opportunities.

See available indicative notices.

How does it differ from a prior information notice?

A prior information notice is used under the classic procurement directive for general public procurement. An indicative notice, on the other hand, is used by contracting entities in the utilities sector. The key differences are:

• Scope: Indicative notices cover utilities sectors (energy, water, transport, postal services)
• Function: Can be used to call for competition, replacing the need for a separate contract notice
• Periodicity: Typically published as periodic summaries of planned procurements

How does it work?

When a utilities contracting entity plans upcoming purchases, it can publish an indicative notice on Doffin or TED. This gives potential suppliers the opportunity to:

• Plan resources and capacity for upcoming opportunities
• Express interest in specific procurements
• Prepare professionally before the formal tender procedure begins

For example: A water utility company planning several infrastructure projects over the coming year can publish an indicative notice summarising all planned procurements. Interested suppliers can then signal their interest and prepare ahead of time.

Benefits for all parties

For contracting entities:

• Streamlined notification of multiple planned procurements
• Better market response through early engagement
• Can shorten deadlines in subsequent tender procedures

For suppliers:

• Early visibility into upcoming utilities opportunities
• Time to plan capacity and explore collaboration with subcontractors
• Better opportunity to deliver competitive bids

With modern tools like Cobrief, suppliers can easily keep track of relevant indicative notices and plan their participation in future utilities procurements more effectively.