- Below RON 270,120 (supplies and services) and RON 900,400 (works), excluding VAT, authorities may award contracts directly.
- Between those ceilings and the EU thresholds, authorities generally run a simplified procedure.
- At or above the EU thresholds (for example €5,404,000 for works), the notice is also published in TED.
Thresholds table
| Threshold (values excluding VAT) | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| EU threshold — works | €5,404,000 (RON 26,960,556) | Works contracts and concessions |
| EU threshold — supplies and services, central authorities | €140,000 (RON 698,460) | Ministries and central bodies |
| EU threshold — supplies and services, sub-central authorities | €216,000 (RON 1,077,624) | Counties, municipalities and their institutions |
| EU threshold — utilities, supplies and services | €432,000 (RON 2,155,248) | Entities under Law 99/2016 |
| EU threshold — social and other specific services | €750,000 (RON 3,741,750) | Services in Annex 2 |
| Direct-award ceiling — supplies and services | RON 270,120 (about €50,600) | Direct award allowed below this value |
| Direct-award ceiling — works | RON 900,400 (about €168,600) | Direct award allowed below this value |
EU thresholds apply from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027; the RON values are the official ones set by the European Commission. The direct-award ceilings are fixed in lei by Law 98/2016; their EUR equivalents are indicative, at the National Bank of Romania rate of 9 October 2026 (EUR 1 = RON 5.3414). Between the direct-award ceiling and the EU threshold, authorities generally run a simplified procedure.
What the thresholds change
| Estimated value (excl. VAT) | What the authority usually runs | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Below the direct-award ceiling | Direct award: a notice, an invitation or the SEAP catalogue, usually without an ESPD | Small, fast orders; our Light offer applies (€890 supplies and services, €1,790 works), with no success fee |
| From the direct-award ceiling up to the EU threshold | Simplified procedure, published in SEAP | ESPD and a full file; short deadlines |
| At or above the EU threshold | A procedure under the EU directives (for example open or restricted), also published in TED | Full rights under the directives for covered bidders |
How the value is counted
- The estimated value always excludes VAT and includes options and extensions.
- For a framework agreement, it is the maximum value of all subsequent contracts over the whole term.
- When a procedure is split into lots, the total of all lots decides which rules apply.
The EUR equivalents of the lei ceilings are indicative, at the National Bank of Romania rate of 9 October 2026 (EUR 1 = RON 5.3414).
This guide is for information only. Quotations from Romanian legislation are unofficial translations. It is not legal advice; for a specific tender, check the official text and the tender documents, or ask us for a review.