Open procedure

In an open procedure, the contracting authority publishes the tender and all interested suppliers may submit a bid. Swiss procurement law uses it especially for contracts above relevant thresholds or where broad competition is desired. The authority checks whether bidders meet suitability requirements and evaluates admissible offers according to the announced award criteria. Unlike a selective procedure, there is no separate prequalification stage before bids are submitted. The open procedure promotes transparency and market access, but it requires clear tender documents and disciplined evaluation to handle potentially many offers fairly.