Knowledge base › The basics of public procurement
How single-source and multiple private tendering work and which rules the Proportionality Guide sets for them.
Checked on 15-09-2026
If the value of a contract is below the European threshold, a contracting authority can choose a national procedure with a notice, open or restricted, or a private procedure without a notice. Which procedure applies at which amount is set out in the organisation's procurement policy; for central government the limits are laid down in a circular. The choice must rest on objective criteria (article 1.4 of the Dutch Public Procurement Act 2012).
In a single private procedure (enkelvoudig onderhands) the authority asks one company for a quote. In a multiple private procedure (meervoudig onderhands) several companies are invited, chosen on objective grounds. Rule 3.4 B of the Proportionality Guide requires the authority to invite at least three and at most five companies. There are no fixed statutory time limits and the contract does not have to be published. If an authority announces a contract voluntarily, it does so in any case on TenderNed.
In a multiple private procedure the authority usually already knows the invited companies. The Guide therefore assumes presumed suitability: suitability requirements belong only where the authority does not yet know the suitability of one or more invited companies (rule 3.5 C). There is no statutory standstill period after the award decision in a multiple private procedure; the Guide mentions periods of 7 or 10 calendar days from practice. For works below the threshold the ARW 2016 applies, which sets out the national procedures but not the single private one.
What this means for you: private procedures do not appear on any public platform. You are invited if the buyer knows you. Make sure the buyers at public bodies in your region know what you do, which contracts you are available for and how large your company is. A first multiple private invitation is good practice: fewer formalities than a European procedure, but a genuine comparison with three to five other suppliers. Always ask afterwards how your offer was assessed.
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.