What is a
supplier
Also known as: economic operator, tenderer
A supplier — formally known as an economic operator in EU legislation — is any business that offers goods, services, or works to a contracting authority. Under EU Directive 2014/24/EU, the definition is deliberately broad: it covers natural and legal persons, public entities, and even temporary consortia of businesses participating in procurement.
How does the supplier role work?
When a contracting authority publishes a tender, any supplier meeting the requirements set out in the tender documents may submit a bid. The contracting authority establishes qualification requirements that suppliers must satisfy — such as financial standing, relevant experience, or technical capacity. Suppliers may also rely on subcontractors to deliver parts of the contract.
In an open procedure, all interested suppliers may submit bids, whereas a restricted procedure requires suppliers to pass a prequalification stage first.
Rights and obligations
EU and EEA procurement rules grant suppliers important rights:
- Equal treatment: All suppliers must be treated equally, regardless of nationality within the EEA
- Transparency: Contracting authorities must act openly, publishing notices and providing access to procurement documents
- Justification: The contracting authority must explain why a particular supplier was chosen, followed by a standstill period before the contract is signed
- Right to challenge: Suppliers who believe the rules have been breached can file a complaint with the relevant review body — in Norway, this is KOFA
In return, suppliers must meet all qualification requirements and submit compliant bids. Providing false information can lead to exclusion from the procedure.
Tools like Cobrief help suppliers discover relevant tenders and stay on top of deadlines and requirements across multiple procurement processes.
A supplier is the essential counterpart to the contracting authority in public procurement. Understanding their rights and obligations enables suppliers to compete more effectively and ensures the procurement process remains fair and transparent.