Requirements for public procurement in Bulgaria
Introduction
Participating in a public tender requires preparation — documents, certificates, and evidence that must be ready before you consider any specific procedure. Without them your bid can be eliminated at the administrative verification stage before it is even evaluated on merit. This guide explains typical participation requirements and what to prepare in advance.
The two main portals
In Bulgaria, public procurement notices are published in two places:
| Portal | URL | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| ЦАИС ЕОП | app.eop.bg | National procedures (mandatory above certain thresholds) |
| TED | ted.europa.eu | European procedures (above EU thresholds) |
The Firmify radar currently works with TED. Larger contracts (above the EU thresholds) are published in both TED and ЦАИС ЕОП.
Main participation requirements
1. Active company
You must have a registered, active commercial entity (LLC, sole trader, JSC, etc.) or association. The company must not be in insolvency or liquidation proceedings.
2. No tax or social security debts
Almost every tender requires a certificate from NRA (НАП) confirming no outstanding tax and social security obligations. The certificate is issued electronically via the NRA portal.
3. No criminal record
Managers and beneficial owners typically must provide a criminal record certificate or declaration confirming they have not been convicted of fraud, corruption, money laundering, or similar offences.
4. Technical and professional capacity
Contracting authorities require evidence that the company can actually deliver:
- References and experience — a list of similar contracts executed in the past 3–5 years, with stated values and clients
- Key experts and qualifications — CVs, degrees, and certificates of key staff
- Technical resources — equipment, licences, infrastructure (for construction or manufacturing)
5. Economic and financial capacity
For larger contracts, proof of financial stability is required:
- Annual financial statements (typically for the past 1–3 years), filed in the Commercial Register
- Bank reference or statement confirming available funds
- Minimum turnover — sometimes an explicit requirement (e.g. turnover at least 2× the contract value)
- Professional liability insurance — especially for construction, IT, and consulting
6. Bid and performance guarantees
- Bid bond — a cash deposit or bank guarantee held during the evaluation period. Released after the procedure concludes.
- Performance guarantee — required from the winner before signing the contract. Usually 5–10% of the contract value.
Documents typically required
| Document | Issued by | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|
| NRA certificate (tax / social security) | NRA (portal.nra.bg) | Up to 7 working days |
| Criminal record certificate | MoI / district courts | 3–14 days |
| Current status certificate | Commercial Register | Instant online |
| Annual financial statements | Your accountant + CR | Preparation + filing |
| Professional liability insurance | Insurance company | 1–5 days |
| Bank reference | Your bank | 1–3 days |
| References from prior contracts | Former clients | Varies |
How to submit a bid
In ЦАИС ЕОП (national tenders)
Bids are submitted exclusively electronically via app.eop.bg. You need a registered account on the platform and a qualified electronic signature (QES) to sign the documents.
In TED / the buyer's platform (European tenders)
For notices published only in TED, bids are submitted through the platform specified in the notice or directly to the buyer. Always check the specific instructions in the tender documentation.
How Firmify helps
The radar notifies you of relevant tenders in advance, giving you enough days to prepare — rather than discovering a procedure three days before the deadline.
Firmify Tenders packages (Tender Radar, Tender Ready, Tender Support) help with analysing a specific tender, a document checklist, readiness assessment, and — when needed — coordination with partner accountants or lawyers.
In-product screens: end-to-end workflow and paid document pack + Stripe.
Useful links
- ЦАИС ЕОП — national procurement portal
- TED — Tenders Electronic Daily — European portal
- NRA portal — tax obligation certificate
- Commercial Register — current status and financial statements
- Guide to the radar and CPV codes
- Public procurement workflow in Firmify
- Paid TED document pack explained
- How to find the CPV code for your business
- Accountant for your company
Frequently asked questions
For ЦАИС ЕОП submissions — yes, a QES is required. For paper-based submissions (small contracts outside ЦАИС) it depends on the specific procedure.
NRA certificates can take up to 7 working days. We recommend keeping documents current at all times — especially when monitoring tenders with short deadlines.
Generally no. Almost all public tenders require a registered commercial entity or association. For company registration see Firmify.
All guides
- How to Register a Company in Bulgaria (2026 Guide)
- EOOD vs OOD in Bulgaria — Which to Choose?
- Company Registration Costs in Bulgaria (2026)
- VAT Registration in Bulgaria — When & How
- Corporate Tax in Bulgaria — 10% Flat Rate Guide
- How to Register an EOOD in Bulgaria — Full Guide
- How to Register an OOD in Bulgaria — Full Guide
- Check & Reserve a Company Name in Bulgaria
- Documents for Company Registration in Bulgaria
- Signing Documents for Company Registration — QES, Specimen, Firmify
- Signing Help — Evrotrust, PDF, B-Trust
- Sign PDF with QES Outside Firmify — Adobe Reader, Steps
- Signing with Evrotrust in Firmify — Steps
- B-Trust, Smart Card, and BISS for Signing
- Capital Escrow Account & Company Banking in Bulgaria
- Annual Financial Report (AFR) in Bulgaria — Filing & Deadlines
- Company Registration & Maintenance Costs in Bulgaria
- Online Company Registration in Bulgaria
- Dissolving an EOOD/OOD in Bulgaria — Procedure & Timeline
- Share Transfer in EOOD/OOD — Procedure & Documents
- Company Amendments in the Commercial Register (A15)
- GDPR Policy & Legal Documents for Your Business
- Employment Contract & HR Documents in Bulgaria
- How to Find an Accountant or Lawyer for Your Company in Bulgaria
- Firmify Partner Program — How to Earn
- Business Documents — Quotes, Proforma Invoices, Contracts
- Do I Need a Lawyer to Register a Company in Bulgaria?
- How Long Does Company Registration Take in Bulgaria?
- What to Do After Receiving Your EIK?
- Do I Need a Notary for Company Registration?
- EOOD vs Freelance in Bulgaria — Which Is More Profitable?
- Manager Social Insurance for EOOD — Types & Obligations
- Public procurement radar: CPV codes and your Firmify profile
- What “AI assistance” means for TED notices
- End-to-end Firmify tenders flow: TED radar, case workspace, Stripe document pack
- Paid TED document pack for Firmify tenders: Stripe, statuses, filenames
- How to find the CPV code for your business
- Requirements for participating in public procurement in Bulgaria
- Art. 97a VAT Filing in Bulgaria — Monthly Guide (2026)
- VIES Declaration in Bulgaria — Guide 2026
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