Above certain contract values, EC Procurement Regulations require that public tenders must be published via the OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union).
There are different thresholds for different types of organisation, and also for different types of goods, services or works. If a contract has a value lower than the threshold, it is often termed 'Below OJEU', and is subject to somewhat less rigorous procurement regulations.
PublicTenders.net publishes OJEU contracts for the UK and EU, and 'Below OJEU' contracts for the UK.
The current procurement thresholds, effective 1 January 2012, are as follows:
1. Contracts from public sector organisations
Including central government, local authorities, the NHS and emergency services
| Part A Services & Supplies1 | |
| Schedule 1 bodies2: | £113,057 |
| Others: | £173,934 |
| Part B Services3 | |
| All bodies: | £173,934 |
| Works | |
| All bodies: | £4,348,350 |
| Small lots4 | |
| Supplies & services: | £69,574 |
| Works: | £869,670 |
2. Contracts from non-government organisations
Including utilities, transport and leisure
| Part B Services3 | |
| All sectors | £347,868 |
| Works | |
| All sectors | £4,348,350 |
| Small lots4 | |
| Supplies & services | £69,574 |
| Works | £869,760 |
3. Contracts from defence and security organisations
Defence procurement was defined under a separate policy in late 2011
| Supplies & services | |
| All sectors | £347,868 |
| Works | |
| All sectors | £4,348,350 |
| Small lots | |
| Supplies & services | £69,574 |
| Works | £869,670 |
Notes
1 Except R&D and certain telecommunications services
2 Generally central government, but more specifically the public bodies relevant to Schedule 1 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006
3 Including R&D and certain telecommunications services
4 If a large contract is split into smaller lots, these lower thresholds apply to each individual lot
Further information
For more detail on EC procurement policy, please refer to the Cabinet Office's Policy & Standards Framework