The rules and the market
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Zamówienia publiczne | Public procurement. |
| PZP (Prawo zamówień publicznych) | The Public Procurement Law. |
| UZP (Urząd Zamówień Publicznych) | The Public Procurement Office. |
| Zamawiający / wykonawca | Contracting authority / contractor (bidder). |
| Próg krajowy | The national threshold: 170,000 PLN since 2026. Below it, the PZP doesn’t apply. |
| Progi unijne | EU thresholds, converted at 4.31 PLN per euro for 2026–27. |
| Szacunkowa wartość zamówienia | Estimated contract value. |
Procedures
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tryb podstawowy | Basic mode, from 170,000 PLN to the EU thresholds. |
| Przetarg nieograniczony | Open tender, at least 35 days (30 electronically). |
| Przetarg ograniczony | Restricted tender. |
| Negocjacje z ogłoszeniem / bez ogłoszenia | Negotiated procedure with or without a notice. |
| Dialog konkurencyjny / partnerstwo innowacyjne | Competitive dialogue and innovation partnership. |
| Zamówienie z wolnej ręki | Single-source award, in listed cases. |
| Umowa ramowa | Framework agreement, up to 4 years. |
Finding and bidding
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| e-Zamówienia | The national procurement platform. |
| BZP (Biuletyn Zamówień Publicznych) | Public Procurement Bulletin: notices from 170,000 PLN up to the EU thresholds. |
| Ogłoszenie o zamówieniu | Contract notice. |
| SWZ (specyfikacja warunków zamówienia) | The tender documents. |
| Oferta | The bid. |
| JEDZ | The European Single Procurement Document (above the thresholds). |
| Oświadczenie | Self-declaration (below the thresholds). |
| Podmiotowe środki dowodowe | Evidence about the bidder (registers, certificates). Foreign firms provide equivalents no more than 3–6 months old. |
| Kwalifikowany podpis elektroniczny | Qualified electronic signature, mandatory above the thresholds. |
| Profil zaufany / podpis osobisty | Polish trusted-profile and e-ID signatures, accepted below the thresholds. |
| Wadium | Bid security: up to 3% (above the thresholds) or 1.5% (below). |
| Konsorcjum | Consortium, jointly and severally liable. |
| Podmiot udostępniający zasoby | A company whose capacity you rely on. |
| Podwykonawca | Subcontractor. |
| Kryteria oceny ofert | Award criteria. Price can’t exceed a 60% weight for public-sector buyers, with exceptions. |
| Rażąco niska cena | An abnormally low price, which must be explained if 30% or more below the estimate or the average. |
| Wykonawcy z państw trzecich (art. 16a/16b) | Third-country contractors: rejected by default since September 2025 unless the tender allows them. |
| Przesłanki wykluczenia | Exclusion grounds (arts. 108–109). |
After the award
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wybór najkorzystniejszej oferty | Selection of the best bid. |
| Termin zawarcia umowy (standstill) | 10 days (above the thresholds) or 5 days (below) before signing. |
| Odwołanie | Appeal to the KIO, within 10 days (above) or 5 days (below). |
| KIO (Krajowa Izba Odwoławcza) | The National Appeal Chamber. Fees run from 7,500 to 20,000 PLN. |
| Zabezpieczenie należytego wykonania umowy | Performance security, usually up to 5% (10% if justified). |
| Waloryzacja | Mandatory price indexation in contracts longer than 6 months. |
| Zaliczka / płatności częściowe | Advance payment, and instalments (mandatory for contracts over 12 months). |
| KSeF | Poland’s national e-invoicing system. Foreign companies without a Polish establishment don’t have to use it. |
Questions
What is tryb podstawowy?
The basic mode: the simplified national procedure for contracts from 170,000 PLN up to the EU thresholds, in three variants (without negotiation, with optional negotiation, with mandatory negotiation). It’s used for 92% of below-threshold contracts, with deadlines as short as 7 days for supplies and services.
What is wadium?
Bid security: up to 3% of the contract value above the EU thresholds and up to 1.5% below them, paid in cash or as a bank or insurance guarantee submitted as an electronic original.
What is the KIO?
The Krajowa Izba Odwoławcza, the National Appeal Chamber, which hears appeals (odwołania) against buyers’ decisions: within 10 days above the EU thresholds or 5 days below, for a fee of 7,500 to 20,000 PLN. Companies from countries without an EU procurement agreement can’t appeal to it.
Sources
- Prawo zamówień publicznych, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 793
- e-Zamówienia: the national procurement platform
This guide explains the rules in plain English; it isn’t legal advice. Procurement rules change, and each tender document sets its own conditions — it always prevails.