How can you challenge an award decision? The standstill period, suspension, annulment, and declaration of non-binding force in Belgian public procurement.

A winning bidding strategy: from specifications to award

How do you write a winning proposal? Specification analysis, scoring, team composition, and strategy.

Plots and SME access: how Belgium is lowering the barriers

How the division into lots and the law of December 22, 2023 promote SMEs' access to public procurement. Advances, bid fees, and transparency.

Getting started

Basic knowledge of public procurement

Finding your first tender

Learn how to use TenderWolf to find and monitor relevant tenders.

How does e-Procurement work in Belgium? The complete overview

The Belgian e-Procurement platform: e-Notification, e-Tendering, Free Market, and e-Catalogue. Registration and search profiles.

CPV codes: the classification language of public procurement

What are CPV codes, how are they structured, and why are they crucial for finding relevant tenders? Structure, examples, and practical tips.

TED and European disclosure: how does it work?

Everything you need to know about Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), European publication requirements, eForms, and how to find and monitor European contracts as an entrepreneur.

European thresholds and estimation rules: when do you have to tender at European level?

How are the European thresholds calculated? Estimation rules, prohibition of artificial splitting, and current thresholds.

Types of contracts: works, supplies, services, and mixed contracts

Difference between works, supplies, and services? Determining the main subject matter, classification of mixed contracts.

Procedures & implementation

Tendering procedures, deadlines, and implementation rules

Filling in the ESPD: step by step

How do you fill in the UEA? Mandatory when, XML format, and reuse in subsequent registrations.

Price revision in public procurement: analyzing the formula

How does price revision work? The revision formula with S-index and I-2021, mandatory revision, and deviations.

Public and non-public procedure: impact on strategy and planning

When does a contracting authority opt for an open or restricted procedure? What does that mean for your planning, your selection file, and your bid?

Framework agreements and mini-competitions: winning in phase 1 and phase 2

How do framework agreements work? One or more participants, mini-competitions, cascade mechanism, and duration.

General implementation rules (AUR): payments, security deposits, fines, and delivery

What does the Royal Decree on Implementation stipulate? Payment terms, security deposits, late penalties, and delivery for Belgian contracts.

Changes during implementation: when is it still the same contract?

When can a contract be amended without a new tender? Revision clauses, de minimis, circumstances, and substantial changes.

E-invoicing in public procurement: obligations, Peppol, and onboarding

When is e-invoicing mandatory for Belgian public contracts? The UBL format, Peppol network, Mercurius platform, and how SMEs are preparing.

Deadlines, questions, and information requests: leeway and risks

What deadlines apply to public contracts? How do you ask questions via the forum, how do you deal with correction notices, and when are deadlines extended?

Competitive procedure with negotiation, competitive dialogue, and innovation partnership

When are special procedures used? How do negotiations, dialogue rounds, and innovation partnerships work, and how can you prepare yourself as a tenderer?

Reliance on third parties and combinations: governance, documents, and liability

How do you collaborate in a temporary partnership or consortium for government contracts? What capabilities can you "borrow" from third parties, and how do you prove this?

Subcontracting in public procurement: obligations, chain, and risk of exclusion

Rules for subcontracting in public procurement. Reporting obligation, exclusion check, and chain liability.

Common irregularities in bids: how to avoid exclusion?

What errors lead to exclusion? Substantive vs. non-substantive irregularities, missing documents.

Electronic auctions and dynamic purchasing systems (DAS): how do they work?

What is an electronic auction in public procurement and how does a dynamic purchasing system work? Conditions of application, procedure, and bidding strategy.

Variants and options in public procurement

When can a bidder submit a variant? What is the difference with an option? Rules, conditions, and strategic use.

Bail and guarantees in public procurement

How does surety work in public procurement? Amount, exemption, release, and the 2023 reforms. Practical guide for bidders.

Recognition of contractors: classes, categories, and public works contracts

How does the accreditation system for contractors in Belgium work? Categories A-P, classes 1-8, threshold amounts, and the link with selection criteria for public contracts.

Selection & award

Selection criteria, award criteria, and evaluation

Selection criteria for public contracts: who is eligible to compete?

Everything you need to know about qualitative selection in Belgian public procurement: grounds for exclusion, financial capacity, technical competence, and reliance on third parties.

Award criteria: price, costs, or best price-quality ratio?

How are contracts awarded? The three types of award, price versus BPKV and bidding strategy.

Social and environmental criteria in public procurement: from award to implementation

How do sustainability criteria work in Belgian public procurement? Selection, award, and implementation conditions relating to the environment, social policy, and circular procurement.

Abnormal prices and price investigations in public procurement

When is a price abnormally low or high? How does the price investigation proceed, how do you defend your price, and when is a quote excluded?

MEAT licensing and life cycle costs: beyond the lowest price

How does the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) work? What are life cycle costs and how do you score maximum points on quality criteria?

Legal framework

Legislation, principles, and legal protection

The Public Procurement Act 2016: what every entrepreneur needs to know

The Belgian Act of June 17, 2016: principles, procedures, thresholds, and recent amendments.

Legal protection in public procurement: your rights as a bidder

How can you challenge an award decision? The standstill period, suspension, annulment, and declaration of non-binding force in Belgian public procurement.

Transparency versus confidentiality in public procurement

How far does the principle of transparency extend? Confidentiality protection and rights of the tenderer.

The fundamental principles of public procurement: equality, transparency, and proportionality

What are the basic principles governing Belgian public procurement law? Equal treatment, transparency, non-discrimination, proportionality, and competition.

Appeal to the Council of State: suspension and annulment of award decisions

How do you challenge an award decision before the Council of State? Standstill, suspension procedure, extreme urgency, and compensation.

Compensation after an unlawful award

When are you entitled to compensation after an incorrect award decision? Burden of proof, calculation, and procedure before the civil court.

Integrity risks and conflicts of interest in public procurement

What integrity risks exist in public procurement? Conflicts of interest, grounds for exclusion, code of ethics, and measures to ensure a level playing field.

GDPR and public procurement: data protection in public procurement

How does the GDPR affect public procurement? Processing agreements, DPO requirements, personal data in tenders, and the relationship between transparency and privacy.

Specialist

Concessions, special sectors, and cross-border

Concessions versus traditional contracts: when do you transfer operational risk?

What distinguishes a concession from a regular public contract? The concept of operational risk, separate legislation, and the consequences for your winning strategy.

Cross-border registration in the Benelux: platforms, documents, and practical barriers

How do Belgian companies tender for Dutch or Luxembourg public contracts, and vice versa? Platforms, ESPD, accreditations, and practical tips.

Special sectors: utilities, defense, and the different rules

Rules for utility sectors and defense. Higher thresholds, more flexible procedures, and specific guidelines.

IT and cloud government procurement: specific challenges and opportunities

How do public contracts for IT services, software, and cloud computing work? Framework agreements, IAAS/SAAS models, vendor lock-in, and the role of open standards.

Strategy

Bid/no-bid, bidding strategy, and SME access

Plots and SME access: how Belgium is lowering the barriers

How the division into lots and the law of December 22, 2023 promote SMEs' access to public procurement. Advances, bid fees, and transparency.

TED and CPV codes: finding and being found in public procurement

How does TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) work? What are CPV codes and how can you use them to find relevant contracts or increase your visibility?

The bid/no-bid decision: when to bid and when not to bid?

How do you decide whether to bid on a government contract? A structured bid/no-bid framework with criteria, scoring method, and practical checklist.

A winning bidding strategy: from specifications to award

How do you write a winning proposal? Specification analysis, scoring, team composition, and strategy.

The European SME strategy in public procurement: from directive to reality

How the EU is improving SMEs' access to public procurement. From the divide-or-explain rule and the ESPD to the Public Procurement Data Space and the revision of the directives.

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