Contents · 6 sections
What public procurement is
The basic rules are set by the Public Procurement Law (Publisko iepirkumu likums, PIL). Its aims are to ensure openness in procurement, free competition and equal treatment of suppliers, efficient use of the contracting authority’s funds, and sustainable procurement.
The law distinguishes three types of contract: supply (purchase of goods), services and works. Which rules apply depends on the contract type and the estimated contract value excl. VAT.
Extensive amendments to the PIL came into force on 9 June 2026. Some of the changes will take effect in stages on 1 January 2027 and 1 January 2028.
Who runs public procurements
The law calls the organisation running a procurement the contracting authority. According to the Procurement Monitoring Bureau (Iepirkumu uzraudzības birojs, IUB), the Public Procurement Law applies mainly to:
- state administration institutions and their subordinate institutions
- municipalities and their institutions
- state-owned and municipally owned companies
Other procurement laws
Companies operating in water supply, energy, transport, postal services and port or airport management apply the Law on the Procurement of Public Service Providers (Sabiedrisko pakalpojumu sniedzēju iepirkumu likums, SPSIL). Separate laws also govern defence and security procurement and public-private partnership contracts.
The main procurement procedures
The choice of procedure depends on the estimated contract value. Below €10,000 for goods and services and below €20,000 for works, the PIL does not prescribe a procurement procedure, and contracting authorities often use price surveys for such purchases. Above these amounts, the rules are as follows:
| Type of procurement | When it applies (2026) | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| PIL Article 9 procurement, or small procurement (mazais iepirkums) | Goods and services €10,000–€41,999, works €20,000–€169,999 | Simpler rules; the deadline for offers is at least 10 working days |
| Open procedure (atklāts konkurss) | From €42,000 (goods, services) and €170,000 (works) | Any interested supplier may submit an offer |
| Restricted procedure (slēgts konkurss) | Same thresholds; the contracting authority may always choose it | Candidates are selected first; only those invited submit offers |
| Competitive procedure with negotiation, competitive dialogue | Only in cases set out in the PIL | The contracting authority discusses the offer or solution with the participants |
| Negotiated procedure | Only in exceptional cases set out in the PIL | For example, if no offers were submitted in an open or restricted procedure |
| Innovation partnership | To develop a new product, service or works | A long-term partnership for development and subsequent purchase |
EU thresholds
If in 2026 the estimated contract value reaches €140,000 for goods and services or €5,404,000 for works, the notice is also published in the Official Journal of the European Union. All amounts and upcoming changes: Public procurement thresholds 2026.
Where public procurements are published
A comparison of sources and search techniques: Where to find current public procurements.
- The Electronic Procurement System (EIS), eis.gov.lv: procurement documents, procurement plans and offer submission in the e-competitions subsystem. The IUB is responsible for the EIS; technical maintenance is provided by the State Digital Development Agency (Valsts digitālās attīstības aģentūra, VDAA).
- The IUB search at info.iub.gov.lv: notices of procurements, their results, contracts concluded and decisions on complaints.
- TED, ted.europa.eu: the online version of the supplement to the EU Official Journal, listing procurements above the EU thresholds.
- Contracting authorities’ websites: price surveys and market research below the thresholds set by law.
How a company can start taking part
Tendera brings procurement information together in one place and helps you select opportunities that may be relevant to your company. Before taking part, always check the requirements in the original procurement documents.
- 1Register your company in the EIS. If the company’s representative has the right to represent it alone, registration can be completed online. More: EIS registration.
- 2Identify the CPV codes for your line of business so that searches return relevant procurements. More: CPV codes.
- 3Follow new procurements in one place: Tendera’s daily email digest shows procurements relevant to your company from 150+ sources.
- 4Check that you meet the qualification requirements and that no exclusion grounds apply to your company, such as tax debts.
- 5Prepare your offer and, if the procurement rules require it, the ESPD (known in Latvia as EVIP). More: EVIP, the ESPD and How to take part in a public procurement.
Key changes in 2026–2028
- From 9 June 2026, the PIL amendments are in force. According to the IUB, green public procurement requirements are no longer mandatory in procurements announced from that date.
- From 1 January 2027, revised rules on excluding candidates and participants will take effect.
- From 1 January 2028, PIL Article 9 procurements will be replaced by simplified procurements from €20,000 for goods and services and from €30,000 for works, and the procurement procedures for works will apply from €1,000,000.
Frequently asked questions
Are “public procurement” and “state procurement” the same thing?
In everyday Latvian, yes. The law uses the term “public procurement” (publiskais iepirkums), which covers procurements by state institutions as well as by municipalities and their companies.
Can a small company take part in public procurements?
Yes. If a company lacks experience or turnover, it can form a group of suppliers, rely on the capacities of another entity or bring in a subcontractor. The offer must show that these resources will actually be available for performing the contract.
Do you have to pay to take part in a procurement?
The contracting authority provides free electronic access to the procurement documents and must use systems that are free of charge for receiving offers. It may require an offer guarantee of no more than 2% of the estimated contract value.
Where can I find procurements announced today?
With Tendera’s daily email digest, you receive new procurements matching your company profile from 150+ sources every morning. Officially, they are published in the IUB search at info.iub.gov.lv and in the EIS, and procurements above the EU thresholds also on TED.
Sources
- 1.Public Procurement Law (Publisko iepirkumu likums), consolidated version — likumi.lv
- 2.Amendments to the Public Procurement Law (Grozījumi Publisko iepirkumu likumā), 14 May 2026 — likumi.lv
- 3.Cabinet Regulation No. 105 of 28 February 2017 on public procurement contract value thresholds (Noteikumi par publisko iepirkumu līgumcenu robežvērtībām) — likumi.lv
- 4.IUB: Procurement guide for suppliers (Iepirkuma ceļvedis piegādātājiem)
- 5.IUB booklet “Types of procurement and contract values under the Public Procurement Law” (Iepirkumu veidi un līgumcenas Publisko iepirkumu likumā, 2026)
- 6.IUB: Updated information on the Public Procurement Law amendments
- 7.IUB: Electronic Procurement System (EIS)
- 8.EIS: Registration information
- 9.EIS: List of e-competition procurements
- 10.TED: About TED