Public procurement - How it works in Sweden

Procurement framework based on EU law

Swedish procurement legislation is based on EU directives and EU primary law. This means that free movement in the internal market may not be limited when making public purchases, and that the basic principles of transparency, equal treatment, non-discrimination, proportionality and mutual recognition must be followed.

Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC on the EUR-lex website

Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and repealing Directive 2004/17/EC on the EUR-lex website

Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the award of concession contracts on the EUR-lex website

Direktiv 2009/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on the coordination of procedures for the award of certain works contracts, supply contracts and service contracts by contracting authorities or entities in the fields of defence and security

Swedish procurement legislation

Procurement by public authorities is regulated in the Public Procurement Act, the Utilities Procurement Act, the Act on Procurement of Concessions, and the Defence and Security Procurement Act. Several of the provisions in these acts implement the provisions of the procurement directives. However, Chapter 19 of the Public Procurement Act regulates procurements that fall completely or partially outside the directives' scope of application.

This applies to procurements below the threshold values stipulated in the directives, and procurements of social services and other special services.

Chapters 20 and 21 contain provisions on legal remedies that specify how aggrieved suppliers in a procurement can request a court to review the procurement or declare a contract invalid.

National Agency for Public Procurement and Swedish Competition Authority – support and supervision

The National Agency for Public Procurement provides support and guidance in public procurements. Support is provided to public authorities, suppliers and other public procurement actors. The Agency has overall responsibility for developing, administering and supporting procurements conducted by the contracting authorities and units.

Supervision of public procurements is carried out by the Swedish Competition Authority, which can also bring court actions regarding procurement fines..

Public procurement on the Swedish Competition Authority website

National Agency for Public Procurement website

National procurement strategy

As part of the efforts to develop public procurements, the Government has produced a national procurement strategy. It contains tips and advice on how contracting authorities and units can develop their strategic work on public purchases.

National Public Procurement Strategy