riigihanke

Riigihanke is the Estonian term for public procurement conducted by state and municipal authorities, government agencies, and other public entities. It covers the purchasing of goods, services, and construction works required to fulfil public functions and policies. Public procurement aims to ensure value for money, competition, transparency, and equal treatment of suppliers.

The legal framework is primarily the Public Procurement Act (Riigihangete seadus), which implements European Union directives on public procurement. The act establishes procedures, selection criteria, and rules for advertising and awarding contracts. In Estonia, procurement notices and bids are published in the national public procurement portal, and contracts above EU thresholds are also published in the European Union’s Tenders Electronic Daily (TED). Public authorities must follow principles such as non-discrimination, proportionality, and transparency, and may use various procedures, including open, restricted, competitive dialogue, or negotiated procedures with prior information.

Procurement procedures are selected based on the contract type, value, and risk. Common steps include defining the need, selecting a procurement method, publishing a contract notice, inviting and receiving bids, evaluating proposals against objective criteria, and awarding the contract. Post-award stages include contract signing, performance monitoring, and possible dispute resolution. Electronic tools and platforms, such as the riigihanked portal, support online advertisement, bid submission, and document exchange, contributing to efficiency and traceability.

Public procurement also falls under oversight by the Competition Authority, which monitors compliance and handles complaints. The system aligns with EU rules to promote cross-border participation and best value for public funds.