How to Bid for Public and Private Tenders in Sweden: A Practical Guide for Companies

Sweden is one of the most transparent and rules-based procurement markets in Europe. Public buyers are required to follow strict laws, procedures and deadlines, and even many private companies copy these standards in their own tender processes. For foreign suppliers this is good news: if you understand the rules, you compete on clear and predictable terms.

This guide explains how tendering works in Sweden, what bidding methods you will meet, which laws apply and how your company can prepare a compliant, competitive offer.

Swedish public procurement notice board at municipal building

1. Legal framework: which laws govern tenders in Sweden?

Public procurement in Sweden is mainly regulated by four acts: upphandlingsmyndigheten.se+1

• Public Procurement Act (LOU, 2016:1145) – covers most central government, regional and municipal contracts for goods, services and works. konkurrensverket.se

• Utilities Procurement Act (LUF) – for procurement in water, energy, transport and postal services. upphandlingsmyndigheten.se

• Act on Procurement of Concessions (LUK) – for concession contracts where the supplier takes on a revenue risk. upphandlingsmyndigheten.se+1

• Defence and Security Procurement Act (LUFS) – for sensitive defence and security contracts. upphandlingsmyndigheten.se+1

These laws implement the EU procurement directives and are built on the core principles of: konkurrensverket.se+2verksamt.se+2

• transparency

• equal treatment and non-discrimination

• proportionality

• mutual recognition

• competition and effective use of public funds

In short: Swedish contracting authorities cannot favour local suppliers or “old friends.” They must define transparent criteria in the tender documents and award the contract based on those criteria only. konkurrensverket.se+1

Two key institutions are:

• National Agency for Public Procurement (Upphandlingsmyndigheten) – provides guidance to authorities and suppliers. upphandlingsmyndigheten.se+1

• Swedish Competition Authority (Konkurrensverket) – supervises procurement and can bring court actions or request fines for serious breaches. konkurrensverket.se+1

2. Where Swedish tenders are published

For contracts above EU thresholds, Swedish authorities must publish notices in the EU’s Official Journal and Tenders Electronic Daily (TED). European Union+1

For contracts below the thresholds, notices are typically published in Swedish electronic tender portals such as Mercell, KommersAnnons, e-Avrop, CTM and others. Lexology+1

Most portals require suppliers to register an account, select CPV codes and set up email alerts. Many interfaces are available in English, but procurement documents may still be in Swedish, so translation support is often needed.

3. Common tender procedures and bidding methods

Sweden uses the standard EU procurement procedures. The most important for foreign suppliers are: European Union+2Lexology+2

3.1 Open procedure (Öppen upphandling)

• Any interested supplier may submit a full tender.

• This is the most common procedure, especially for straightforward goods and services.

• All qualification documents, technical descriptions and pricing are submitted at once by the deadline.

3.2 Restricted procedure (Selektiv upphandling)

• Any supplier may request participation.

• The authority pre-selects candidates based on capacity and experience.

• Only shortlisted suppliers are invited to submit full bids.

3.3 Negotiated procedure with prior publication

• Used when the contract is complex or when earlier open/restricted procedures resulted in irregular or unacceptable tenders. konkurrensverket.se+1

• Shortlisted suppliers submit initial tenders and then negotiate terms and solutions with the authority.

3.4 Competitive dialogue & innovation partnership

• Applied for complex projects where the authority cannot define the solution in advance, for example large infrastructure or innovative services. European Union+1

• Several dialogue rounds are held before final tenders are submitted.

3.5 Framework agreements

Nearly half of Swedish procurements are framework agreements with one or several suppliers, often for 2–4 years. Call-off orders are then placed during the contract period based on the framework terms. Lexology+1

4. How bids are evaluated in Sweden

Most Swedish procurements are awarded to the “most economically advantageous tender” (MEAT), which combines price and quality. Authorities may use criteria such as: Lexology+2Refero revision+2

• total cost or life-cycle cost

• technical performance

• service levels and staffing

• environmental impact and climate performance

• social criteria (work conditions, equality, etc.)

Important points:

• Floor prices and models that block low prices have been considered contrary to equal treatment in Swedish case law. Lexology+1

• Evaluation formulas are often detailed; minor changes in price or scoring can significantly change rankings.

• Authorities must follow their published model strictly. Any deviation can be challenged in court.

From an economic perspective, Sweden typically uses a first-price sealed-bid structure: bids are submitted confidentially, and the winner pays the price it offered. Diva Portal

5. Step-by-step: how a company can bid in Swedish public tenders

Step 1: Identify relevant tenders

• Map your products/services to CPV codes commonly used in Sweden.

• Register on Swedish e-procurement portals and set up alerts for those codes and keywords. verksamt.se+1

• Monitor TED for larger, cross-border opportunities.

Step 2: Read the procurement documents carefully

Swedish tender documents are usually very detailed and legally precise. They normally include: konkurrensverket.se+2Lexology+2

• invitation to tender (instructions to bidders)

• administrative requirements and deadlines

• qualification criteria (financial capacity, technical ability, references, certifications)

• mandatory requirements (shall/“must” requirements)

• award criteria and scoring model

• draft contract

You must meet all mandatory requirements; otherwise your bid can be rejected without evaluation.

Step 3: Ask questions within the set deadline

During the tender period, suppliers may submit written questions via the portal. The answers are shared anonymously with all participants to ensure equal treatment. verksamt.se+1

If you believe something is unclear or unlawful, you often need to raise the issue before submitting your tender; otherwise you may lose your right to challenge the procedure later. Chambers and Partners+1

Step 4: Prepare qualification and technical documents

Typical elements include:

• proof of registration and tax compliance

• annual reports / financial statements

• references from similar contracts

• quality management and environmental certificates (ISO, etc.)

• detailed descriptions of how you will deliver the service or product, including staffing, processes, tools and risk management

For foreign suppliers, it is crucial to:

• confirm which documents must be in Swedish and which are accepted in English

• check if official translations or legalisations are required.

Step 5: Price your bid

Because Swedish authorities focus on fair competition and efficient use of public funds, pricing is scrutinised. Lexology+1

Best practice:

• follow the exact pricing template provided

• calculate life-cycle costs (maintenance, consumables, training) if requested

• ensure the bid is internally consistent (numbers in price list, technical proposal and contract annexes must match)

• avoid “symbolic” prices that could be seen as non-serious.

Step 6: Submit electronically and on time

All bids are submitted via the e-procurement system indicated in the tender notice. verksamt.se+1

Remember:

• The system closes automatically at the specified date and time (usually Central European Time).

• Uploads can be slow; large attachments should be sent early.

• Only authorised persons should sign the bid electronically.

Once the deadline passes, bids are locked and cannot be changed, except in very limited situations such as correcting obvious clerical errors.

Step 7: Evaluation, award decision and standstill

After evaluation, the authority sends an award decision to all bidders, explaining the main reasons and scores. A standstill period then applies before the contract is signed. During this time, you may request clarifications or, if you believe there has been a legal breach, apply for review before an administrative court. Lexology+2European Commission+2

6. Private sector tenders in Sweden

Private companies in Sweden are not normally bound by the public procurement acts, but many larger groups and state-owned enterprises voluntarily use similar structures to ensure fairness and traceability. Common private-sector methods include:

• RFI (Request for Information) – to explore the market and possible solutions.

• RFQ (Request for Quotation) – price-focused requests for standard products or services.

• RFP (Request for Proposal) – more complex, combining technical solution and price.

• Negotiated tenders or competitive dialogue for long-term partnerships or outsourcing.

ESG requirements, sustainability criteria and data-protection clauses are increasingly common in private as well as public contracts in Sweden, reflecting national policy priorities. Regeringskansliet+2European Commission+2

For foreign suppliers, it is wise to treat private Swedish tenders with the same discipline as public ones: strict respect for deadlines, precise answers to the specification and transparent pricing.

7. Practical tips for foreign companies

1. Invest in understanding LOU & EU rules. Even a basic overview significantly reduces legal risk. konkurrensverket.se+2kravkompetens.com+2

2. Monitor your legal position during the procedure. In Sweden, many legal objections must be raised before you submit your offer. Chambers and Partners+1

3. Use local partners when needed. For complex tenders, Swedish legal or consulting support can be valuable, especially for framework agreements. Lexology+1

4. Highlight sustainability and quality, not only price. Public buyers are encouraged to consider environmental and social value, not just cost. Regeringskansliet+1

5. Be patient but systematic. Building references in the Swedish market often starts with smaller contracts and grows over time.

By understanding the Swedish legal framework, the typical tender procedures and the detailed bidding rules, your company can participate in both public and private tenders in Sweden with confidence and realistic expectations.