Kustannussidonnaisuutta

Kustannussidonnaisuutta refers to a principle in public procurement and administrative law that dictates how the costs incurred by a public entity in a procurement process should be handled. Essentially, it addresses the question of who bears the responsibility for the expenses related to a tender or procurement procedure. In most cases, the principle of kustannussidonnaisuutta means that the procuring entity, meaning the public authority initiating the procurement, is responsible for its own costs associated with the process. This includes expenses for drafting tender documents, evaluating bids, conducting negotiations, and any other administrative costs incurred during the procurement.

Conversely, tenderers, or potential suppliers and contractors, are generally expected to bear their own costs in preparing and submitting their bids. This means that a company that participates in a tender, even if it does not win the contract, will not be reimbursed by the public entity for the resources it spent on developing its proposal, preparing documentation, or any travel or other expenses related to the bidding process. This principle aims to ensure fairness and transparency in public procurement by clearly defining cost responsibilities. It also encourages tenderers to carefully consider the resources required for bidding and to submit well-prepared proposals. There can be specific exceptions or variations to this principle depending on the jurisdiction or the specific nature of the procurement, but the general rule is that each party is responsible for its own costs.