PUBLIC PROCUREMENT - Lexnet

These types of barriers are characterised as being internal barriers that the companies themselves,
to a certain extent, can influence. However, at the same time public authorities, business unions
etc. have responsibilities to address initiatives dealing with these types of problems.
Therefore, it is recommended to establish four types of initiatives. In short, the recommendations
are:
1. Recommendation: Analyse market opportunities for Danish SME’s within certain sectors
It is recommended to initiate further investigations – in co-operation with embassies and business
unions - into what main business lines Danish SME’s have particularly favourable opportunities
regarding public procurement.
2. Recommendation: Improve the SME’s possibilities to search for information.
It is recommended to establish a one-point information shop regarding European and national
procurement tenders.
3. Recommendation: Mentor-arrangement.
It is recommended to establish a “mentor-arrangement” whereby Danish companies, that are experienced
within public procurement abroad, are motivated to assist companies that are about to
participate in their first EU-procurement bid. In other areas, such a construction has shown to be
very successful.
Barriers for businesses that already have experiences with EU-procurement abroad
In total, some 10% of the businesses taking part in the survey are active on procurement markets
abroad. These businesses have overcome the greatest barrier: submitting the first bid. The results
show that this segment of active companies regard public procurement as interesting markets.
All in all, this segment of companies sends a very positive message; the vast majority do not encounter
essential problems related to presumed infringements of the public procurement directives.
Unfortunately, one out of four companies do meet such problems. This must be considered
as an alarmingly high rate.
When analysing the barriers for businesses that export to public authorities abroad, the
Competition Authority has concentrated on external barriers. The report concludes that the most
damaging barrier is the indirect discrimination of foreign companies in the tender dossier (tender
specifications). In all, the results show that the barriers are the following:
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