riigihankest

Riigihange refers to the process by which public sector entities in Estonia procure goods, services, or works from external suppliers. This process is governed by the Public Procurement Act, which aims to ensure transparency, competition, efficiency, and equal treatment of potential bidders. The primary goal is to achieve the best value for public money by fostering a competitive market.

Public procurement covers a wide range of acquisitions, from office supplies and IT equipment to construction projects and consultancy services. Entities subject to the Act include government ministries, local authorities, public schools, and state-owned enterprises. The procurement procedure must be conducted in a manner that is proportionate to the value and nature of the contract.

Key principles of riigihange include transparency, where all stages of the procurement are documented and accessible; competition, encouraging multiple bidders to participate; equal treatment, ensuring all bidders are treated fairly without discrimination; and proportionality, aligning the procurement process with the contract's scope and value.

Depending on the estimated value of the contract, different procurement procedures are prescribed, ranging from open tenders and restricted procedures to negotiated procedures and competitive dialogues. For contracts exceeding certain thresholds, procurement notices must be published in the Estonian Public Procurement Register and often in the Official Journal of the European Union. The process culminates in the selection of the most economically advantageous tender based on pre-defined award criteria.