Open Procedure
A procurement procedure where any supplier can submit a full bid in response to the contract notice; the simplest and most common procedure.
Definition
The Open procedure is a procurement procedure where any supplier can submit a full bid in response to the contract notice. There is no preliminary selection stage: the Contract Notice is published and the full Invitation to Tender is available immediately. Selection (financial standing, relevant experience, exclusion grounds) and award (scoring the bid substance) are evaluated together against the published criteria. Open procedure is the most common procurement procedure for straightforward contracts.
How it works in practice
Open procedure suits contracts where the requirement is well-defined and the buyer can specify exactly what they need at the outset. The advantage is simplicity and speed: there is only one response window and one evaluation stage. The disadvantage is the evaluation cost: the buyer must evaluate every bid received, which on popular tenders can mean evaluating dozens of full responses including selection-stage information that may not be needed. For complex contracts where the design is iterative or the buyer wants to refine the specification through dialogue, Competitive Dialogue or Competitive Procedure with Negotiation are more suitable. For contracts where the buyer expects a large number of bidders but wants to evaluate only a shortlist, Restricted Procedure splits selection from award. Open procedure remains the default for most below-strategic-value UK public sector contracts. The minimum response window under PCR 2015 is 35 days from notice publication (30 days if a Prior Information Notice was issued, 15 days in extreme urgency). The Procurement Act 2023 keeps the open procedure concept under the name "Open" within a simplified procedure list (Open, Competitive Flexible, Direct Award).
Common questions
When is open procedure most suitable?
For straightforward contracts where the requirement is well-defined and the buyer can specify exactly what they need at the outset. Routine services, commodity goods, and contracts with clear specifications all suit open procedure. Complex or iterative contracts suit Competitive Dialogue or Competitive Flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.
How long does an open procedure take from notice to award?
Typically 3 to 6 months from contract notice to award, depending on bid volume and evaluation complexity. The published minimum response window is 35 days (30 with a prior PIN), then evaluation typically takes 4 to 12 weeks plus 10 days standstill. Complex high-value open procedures can run longer.
What is the difference between open and restricted procedure?
Open procedure has a single response stage; any supplier can submit a full bid. Restricted procedure has two stages: a Selection Questionnaire shortlists candidates, then only shortlisted suppliers submit a full bid. Restricted reduces evaluation cost on popular tenders at the expense of overall timeline.