invitation to tender

An invitation to tender (ITT) is a formal request issued by a contracting authority inviting suppliers to submit bids for a specific contract. The ITT sets out the scope of the procurement, the rules governing the process, evaluation criteria, and submission deadlines. Under EU Directive 2014/24/EU, the ITT plays a particularly important role in two-stage procedures such as the restricted procedure, where only prequalified suppliers receive an invitation to submit tenders.

How does an invitation to tender work?

In an open procedure, the ITT is effectively the tender documentation itself — published alongside the contract notice and available to all interested suppliers. It describes what is being procured, the award criteria, deadlines, and administrative rules for the competition.

In a restricted procedure, the ITT functions differently. After a prequalification phase where suppliers demonstrate they meet the qualification requirements, the contracting authority sends a written invitation to the selected candidates. Under EU Directive 2014/24/EU, the minimum time limit for receiving tenders is 30 days from the date the ITT is sent, though this can be reduced to 10 days in cases of justified urgency. The same two-stage model applies to competitive procedures with negotiation and other multi-phase procurement methods.

What does an ITT typically include?

• Scope of work: A detailed description of the goods, services, or works to be procured
• Procedure rules: Which procurement procedure applies and how the process will be conducted
• Qualification requirements: What suppliers must demonstrate and which documents to submit
• Award criteria: How tenders will be evaluated and weighted
• Submission deadline: The final date and time for tender submission
• Contract terms: Reference to the terms and conditions governing the contract

Tools like Cobrief make it easy to discover new invitations to tender across public portals, helping suppliers respond quickly and avoid missing relevant opportunities.

An ITT is the starting point for a supplier's bid preparation. A well-structured invitation ensures a level playing field and gives all suppliers the information they need to submit a competitive tender.