Source: https://tendernation.io/glossary/open-procedure Glossary # Open procedure A single-stage competitive tender, open to any supplier, where everyone submits a full bid by the same deadline. Updated 14 Oct 2026 The open procedure is the simplest competitive tendering procedure. The buyer publishes a tender notice and documents, any interested supplier can submit a full tender by the deadline, and the buyer assesses all of them in one stage. ## What it means [Section 20(2)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/20) defines the open procedure as "a single-stage tendering procedure without a restriction on who can submit tenders". It is one of only two competitive tendering procedures under the Act; the other is the [competitive flexible procedure](/glossary/competitive-flexible-procedure). The buyer starts it by publishing a [tender notice](/glossary/tender-notice) under section 21. [Section 54](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/54) sets minimum tendering periods. For a typical electronic tender with all documents provided at the start, the minimum is 25 days. It can drop to 10 days if the buyer published a qualifying planned procurement notice at least 40 days and no more than 12 months beforehand, or in a state of urgency. Because there is no shortlist, the buyer checks conditions of participation and exclusion grounds alongside the assessment of tenders. ## Why it matters for SMEs The open procedure is the most accessible route for small suppliers: no shortlist to get through and no negotiation rounds. The trade-off is that you must write a complete bid without knowing how many others are bidding, and on popular contracts there can be many. ## Practical tip Because everyone submits a full bid, your bid/no-bid decision matters more. Before committing, check that you meet every condition of participation, that you can evidence the highest-weighted criteria and that the deadline leaves you enough time. The [tender deadline calculator](/tools/tender-deadline-calculator) shows the legal minimum, and our [guide to writing a tender](/guides/how-to-write-a-tender) covers building a strong response. Find tenders that fit your business Search UK, EU and World Bank tenders in one place, get AI summaries and a fit score for each one, and track bids in a pipeline. Professional comes with a 14-day free trial, no card needed. [Browse live tenders](/opportunities)[Start free trial ](/register) 14-day free trial, no card required Browse by sector - [Construction work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/construction-work)374 - [Architecture, engineering & surveying](https://tendernation.io/sectors/architecture-engineering-surveying)134 - [IT services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/it-services)54 - [Business services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/business-services)177 - [Health and social work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/health-social-work)300 - [Sewage, refuse, cleaning & environmental](https://tendernation.io/sectors/sewage-refuse-cleaning-environmental)80 [All sectors ](/sectors) ## Nearby terms [Mini-competitionA short competition run among the suppliers on a framework to award a specific call-off contract.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/mini-competition)[Modern slavery statementAn annual statement, required of larger businesses under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, on steps taken to prevent slavery and trafficking in their supply chains.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/modern-slavery-statement)[Most advantageous tender (MAT)The bid that meets the buyer's requirements and scores best against the published award criteria, which a buyer may award the contract to.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/most-advantageous-tender)[Payments compliance noticeA notice public buyers publish twice a year showing how well they have met the 30-day payment rule on their public contracts.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/payments-compliance-notice)[Pipeline noticeAn annual notice from buyers spending over £100 million a year, listing contracts over £2 million they plan to tender in the next 18 months.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/pipeline-notice)[Preliminary market engagementConversations a buyer has with suppliers before publishing a tender, to shape its requirements, procedure and contract terms.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/preliminary-market-engagement) [Read our procurement guides ](/guides)