Underudbyder

Underudbyder is a Danish term that translates roughly as “sub-provider” or “under-supplier.” It is used in the context of procurement and contracting to denote a party that supplies goods or services under the responsibility of a primary provider or contractor. The word combines under- (subordinate) with udbyder (provider or tenderer).

In practice, the term is not common in formal procurement documents. More typical are underleverandør (sub-supplier) or simply leverandør (supplier). When a main bidder or contractor uses sub-suppliers to fulfil parts of a contract, these sub-providers may be described in contract papers as underudbydere, though underleverandører is the standard term.

Ambiguity can arise with underudbyder. It can refer to a subcontractor engaged by a bidder or, in some contexts, to a bidder whose offer relies on subordinate components or services. The main contractor remains responsible to the contracting authority for performance and quality, while sub-providers execute specific tasks under the contract. Rules about disclosure, liability, and approval of sub-providers vary by jurisdiction and contract.

Relation to other terms: underudbyder is distinct from udbyder (buyer or tender issuer) and from tilbudsgiver (bidder). In most Danish procurement discussions, the concepts are handled with underleverandør and leverandør to avoid ambiguity.

See also: udbyder, tilbudsgiver, underleverandør, offentlig indkøb.