Kilpailuta

Kilpailuta is a Finnish verb meaning to arrange or initiate a competitive bidding process for procurements, services, or projects. It involves inviting multiple suppliers to submit offers and comparing them according to predefined criteria to select the most suitable option. The related noun forms include kilpailutus and kilpailuttaminen.

The term is widely used in public procurement and in corporate purchasing. In government or municipal contexts, kilpailuttaminen is standard to ensure transparency, equal treatment, and value for money. The process can be carried out under open or restricted procedures, and in the European Union context may follow directives that govern publication, competition rules, and evaluation criteria for public contracts.

Typical implementation steps include defining the need, preparing procurement documents (such as specifications, selection and award criteria, and contract terms), publishing a call for bids, receiving and opening bids, evaluating bids against objective criteria (price, quality, delivery, sustainability), selecting a supplier, awarding the contract, and monitoring contract performance. The imperative form kilpailuta is used in instructions or directives to request someone to initiate or carry out a competition.

Etymology and related terms: kilpailuta derives from kilpailu, meaning competition, with the suffix -uttaa, which conveys causing or arranging. Related concepts include kilpailuttaminen (the act of initiating competition), kilpailutus (the bidding process), and kilpailija (competitor).

Kilpailuttamisen goal is to obtain best value and to promote fairness and transparency in procurement activities.