1. The new values
According to institutional sources the thresholds rise as follows. All values are exclusive of VAT, as thresholds are generally.
| Type of contract | Until 31.08.2026 | From 01.09.2026 | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplies and services | €30,000 | €50,000 | + 67 % |
| Construction works, service concessions, defence and security supplies or services, utilities sector supplies or services | €60,000 | €100,000 | + 67 % |
| Defence, security and utilities sector construction works | €300,000 | €500,000 | + 67 % |
Values must be checked against the current text of the law before use, since this article is an overview. Summaries date quickly.
2. Why the rise is roughly twofold
Three reasons, of which the third is technical and the most important. It concerns the coverage of the thresholds.
The rules and thresholds in force have remained the same for years and, on institutional assessments, do not reflect today's market conditions. Prices have risen considerably since.
The rise in construction prices has meanwhile made the same work nominally more expensive, without its substance changing. Work that once fitted within €55,000 now costs €90,000, although it is the same work.
The abolition of the public procurement threshold means the simplified threshold must cover a wider range than before.
The third reason explains why the rise is not mere indexation but a consequence of restructuring the system. Had the rise been a catching up with inflation it would have been smaller; a jump of 67 % follows from the disappearance of the intermediate tier.
3. What it means for the contracting authority
Three consequences. More procurements fall under simplified rules, which shortens the procedure and reduces the documentation burden.
Fewer procurements require a heavier procedure, which reduces workload. That is the main aim of the reform.
Assessing borderline cases becomes temporarily harder, because two sets of rules apply at once to different procurements. Both must be checked during the transition.
The third point is a real problem in autumn 2026, since ongoing and new procurements fall under different regimes. An authority running ten procurements at once is running two rulebooks at once through the autumn.
4. What it means for the tenderer
Two consequences that work in opposite directions. One lightens the burden, the other adds to it.
More procurements fall under simpler rules, which lowers the barrier to entry and favours smaller firms. Simplified requirements also mean fewer formal obstacles.
At the same time simpler rules can mean less structured procurement documents, which requires more careful reading, not sloppier. The tenderer then has to ask more questions.
The professional recommendation follows directly: a simpler procedure does not mean a simpler contract, and contract terms must be read just as carefully. In construction this matters particularly, because the duration of the contract and the allocation of risk do not depend on the type of procedure.
5. How to check which rules apply
Three steps. Look at when the procurement procedure was launched. That is the decisive date.
If before 1 September 2026, the existing rules apply, as covered in the transition article.
If after, the new thresholds apply.
In case of doubt, check the contract notice, where the type of procedure is stated. Inferring from a date is unreliable, because the date of launch and the date of publication may not coincide.
In summary, and four practical rules
Simplified thresholds rise by roughly 67 % on 1 September 2026: for supplies and services from €30,000 to €50,000, for construction works from €60,000 to €100,000, and for defence, security and utilities sector construction works from €300,000 to €500,000. The rise is not indexation but a consequence of restructuring, since the domestic public procurement threshold disappears and the simplified threshold must cover a wider range.
Four rules: check the date the procedure was launched, not the date tenders are submitted. Take values from the current text of the law, not from a summary. Bear in mind that two sets of rules are in circulation in autumn 2026. Do not assume a simpler procedure means a simpler contract.
This article serves professional orientation at the date of checking. It does not replace the Public Procurement Act or information published by the Ministry of Finance.