What are community thresholds in public procurement?
Let's see, we go to the grain: the community thresholds in public procurement are basically a kind of “filter” that the European Union puts to decide when a contract has to come to light at European level and not only stay in the national corralito. If the background of the contract passes a certain limit (which changes depending on whether it is to build, buy things, or services and according to who is hiring it), then nothing, direct to the Official Gazette of the European Union (the famous DOUE) and that every neighbor's son finds out in the EU.
This is not a whim, huh. It comes in the 2014/24/EU Directive, which sounds like a legal tostón but sends a lot on the subject. What they are looking for with these thresholds is that there are no scams, that companies can compete in fair conditions and, incidentally, that the market moves throughout the union. That is, it is not always the councilor's cousin who takes the contract because "casually" no one else learned.
For any company that wants to catch Cacho in public tenders, these thresholds are key. If the contract is tiny, only the companies of the country and point see it. But if it is fat and overcomes the threshold, then the thing gets interesting, because they can enter to play companies from all over the union. More competition, more opportunities ... And also more fight, of course.
If you have a company and want to grow through Europe, the thresholds should be on your radar. Watch the Doue, because there are large contracts, those who really can open doors in other countries. Of course, beware, because when a contract exceeds the threshold, the thing is complicated: more paperwork, more requirements, strict deadlines ... come on, we must curb it.
In summary: Community thresholds are the goalkeeper of the European Public Procurement disco. If your contract goes from a certain level, they let you enter the European club, where there is more competition but also more business opportunities. So, if you are going to play this game, you better know what to watch.