Knowledge base › Working together and starting small
Below the EU threshold, public bodies often invite three to five companies without public notice. This is how it works and how to get noticed.
Checked on 15-09-2026
A lot of public work is never publicly announced. In a multiple private tender (meervoudig onderhandse aanbesteding) the contracting authority invites several companies to submit a quotation; according to PIANOo this is usually 3 to 5 companies. There are no fixed time limits and the contract does not have to be published. In a single private tender (enkelvoudig onderhands) one company is asked for a quotation.
Which procedure applies at which value is set by each organisation in its own procurement policy. The Proportionality Guide (Gids Proportionaliteit), the mandatory guideline under the Dutch Procurement Decree, states in rule 3.4 B that in a multiple private procedure below the EU threshold at least three and at most five bidders are invited. According to the Guide, this procedure is proportionate for supplies and services up to the EU threshold and for works up to €1.5 million.
One example is the 2024 procurement policy of the municipality of Berg en Dal, in force since 24 October 2024. For services and supplies the municipality asks one company below €25,000, two from €25,000 to €50,000, and three to five from €50,000 up to the EU threshold. For works the limit for a single private tender is €100,000, and between €150,000 and €1.5 million the municipality invites three to five companies. Other municipalities use other amounts.
How do you get on such a list? The municipality of Westland writes that in private tenders it tries to invite at least one suitable local company from its business register. Registering is free, but according to the municipality it does not automatically mean a company will be invited. Not every municipality has such a register. Many municipalities publish their procurement policy on lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl.
What this means for you: look up the procurement policy of the municipalities in your area and note the thresholds for your type of work. Ask whether there is a business register or supplier list and sign up. Also introduce yourself to the buyer or the department you want to work for, with a short description of what you do and at what scale. An invitation is never guaranteed, but a buyer cannot invite a company they do not know.
These articles explain how public tendering works; they are not legal advice. If you are unsure about a specific tender, ask your question through the clarification round or consult a lawyer.
Tell us what your company does; you will see straight away which open tenders fit. Free and without obligation.