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Public Procurement in Romania

Public procurement in Romania represents a major channel of public expenditure and a key policy instrument for infrastructure development, public services, and economic growth. As a European Union member state, Romania operates an EU-aligned public procurement system built on transparency, competition, non-discrimination, and value for money.

Romanian public procurement covers central government institutions, local authorities, public utilities, and state-owned entities. Procurement procedures are conducted predominantly through a centralized electronic procurement platform, ensuring broad market access and procedural standardization.

For domestic suppliers, SMEs, and international bidders, government tenders in Romania offer significant opportunities across goods, works, and services, particularly in infrastructure, public administration, energy, transport, and digitalization.

Country & Economic Overview

Public Procurement Governance Framework

• Public Procurement Agency (PPA): National Agency for Public Procurement (ANAP)
• PPA Website: http://anap.gov.ro/web/
• Is PPA a Central Purchasing Body: No

ANAP is responsible for regulatory oversight, policy development, monitoring of procurement procedures, guidance to contracting authorities, and publication of analytical and annual procurement reports.

Central Purchasing Body

• Name: National Office for Centralized Procurement (ONAC)
• Coverage: National
• Sectors: Public Administration
• Website: http://onac.gov.ro/

Romania has 3,514 certified contracting officers holding nationally recognized Public Procurement Expert Certificates.

Legal & Regulatory Framework

Public procurement in Romania is governed primarily by Law No. 98/2016 on public procurement and its secondary legislation.

• Primary Legislation: http://anap.gov.ro/web/legislatie-primara/

Procurement Procedures & Thresholds

The average period from advertisement to contract award is 90 days, while the average bid evaluation period is 66 days.

E-Procurement System Overview

SEAP is recognized for World Bank-financed procurement using electronic tendering and reverse auction methods.

Procurement Market Statistics

Transparency, Complaints & Oversight

• Accepted complaints: 1,417
• Rejected complaints: 849
• Complaints under investigation: 1
• Average complaint resolution period: 32 days
• Cancelled procurement procedures: 6,981

Procurement statistics and annual reports are publicly available through SEAP and ANAP portals.

Sustainability & Green Public Procurement

Romania has adopted a national green public procurement framework supported by legislative amendments and strategic policy documents.

• National Strategy in Public Procurement 2023-2027
• Green procurement practices are mandatory for defined categories
• Lead agencies: Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests; ANAP
• Environmental assessment factors required under Article 187 of Law No. 98/2016

Detailed environmental requirements are established under Order No. 1068/1652/2018 for specific goods and services.

Social & Ethical Procurement Considerations

• Reserved contracts for businesses owned by disadvantaged groups, including disabled persons
• Mandatory compliance with labor, social, and environmental standards
• No legal requirement for awards to women-owned businesses
• No local sourcing requirements under national procurement law

Key Practical Insights for Bidders

• Romania operates one of the most comprehensive eProcurement systems in the EU
• Infrastructure and works contracts dominate total procurement value
• SMEs account for the majority of awarded contracts
• MEAT and sustainability criteria are increasingly influential
• Careful planning is required due to relatively long evaluation timelines

Public Procurement in Romania offers a transparent, regulated, and high-value procurement market for suppliers seeking participation in EU-compliant government tenders, with strong digital infrastructure and expanding sustainability requirements.