Understanding TED: The EU's Procurement Database
Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) is the official publication for European public procurement. It's the largest database of public tenders in Europe, publishing over 500,000 procurement notices annually.
What is TED?
TED is the online version of the 'Supplement to the Official Journal' of the EU, dedicated to European public procurement. It provides free access to business opportunities from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and beyond.
Types of Notices
TED publishes several types of procurement notices:
Prior Information Notices
These give advance notice of upcoming procurement procedures, allowing businesses to prepare.
Contract Notices
The main tender announcements, detailing the requirements and submission process.
Contract Award Notices
Published after a contract is awarded, these provide transparency on who won and the contract value.
Coverage
TED covers contracts above certain thresholds:
- €140,000 for service and supply contracts
- €5,350,000 for works contracts
- Different thresholds apply for utilities and defense contracts
Using TED Effectively
1. Set Up Alerts
Create custom alerts for your industry sector and region to receive notifications of relevant opportunities.
2. Analyze Historical Data
Review past contract awards to understand:
- Which organizations procure your services
- Typical contract values
- Award patterns and timings
3. Understand CPV Codes
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes classify the subject of contracts. Learning relevant codes helps you search effectively.
Beyond TED
While TED is essential, many opportunities fall below EU thresholds and are only published on national platforms. That's why Reyda aggregates multiple sources to ensure you don't miss opportunities.
The Reyda Advantage
Reyda analyzes TED data alongside national procurement databases to:
- Identify SME-suitable opportunities
- Track procurement patterns
- Provide insights on success rates
- Simplify the search process