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Public Procurement in North Macedonia

Public procurement in North Macedonia is a legally regulated and institutionally centralized system that plays a critical role in public expenditure management, infrastructure development, and delivery of essential public services. Government procurement activities span national ministries, municipalities, public enterprises, and state-funded institutions.

The public procurement market in North Macedonia is fully operational through an electronic procurement environment and follows principles aligned with European Union procurement standards. The system is designed to ensure transparency, competition, and value for money in the use of public funds.

For domestic suppliers, regional contractors, and international companies, government tenders in North Macedonia provide structured access to procurement opportunities across goods, works, and services, supported by published data, legal safeguards, and a centralized electronic platform.

Country & Economic Overview

Public procurement expenditure represents approximately 8% of GDP, underscoring its fiscal and economic importance.

Public Procurement Governance Framework

• Public Procurement Agency (PPA): Public Procurement Bureau
• PPA Website: https://bjn.gov.mk/
• Central Purchasing Body (CPB): Public Procurement Bureau
• Is PPA also CPB: No

The Public Procurement Bureau is responsible for regulatory oversight, system administration, monitoring compliance, capacity building, and publication of procurement statistics and annual reports.

The procurement workforce includes certified contracting officers trained under the CIPS Level 4 certification program.

Legal & Regulatory Framework

Public procurement is governed by the Law on Public Procurement, available through official government portals.

• Public Procurement Law:
  https://www.bjn.gov.mk/en/category/law-on-public-procurement/
  https://www.bjn.gov.mk/category/zakon-za-avni-nabavki/

Key Legal Clauses

• Value for Money (Article 4)
• Most Economically Advantageous Tender - MEAT (Article 99)
• Life Cycle Costing (Article 100)
• Bid Securities (Article 101)
• Public Bid Openings (Article 108)
• Contract Award Disclosure (Article 70)
• Tender Threshold Values (Article 40)

Standstill periods for goods, works, and services contracts are regulated under Article 115.

Procurement Procedures & Thresholds

The average number of days from advertisement to contract award is 23 days, with an average bid evaluation time of 11.5 days.

E-Procurement System in North Macedonia

The ESPP supports electronic document signing and full-cycle electronic procurement. Tender documents are downloadable, and procurement data is published through open data portals.

Procurement Market Characteristics

Domestic suppliers account for the majority of awards, while international participation is primarily concentrated in higher-value contracts.

Transparency, Complaints & Oversight

• Accepted complaints: 284
• Rejected complaints: 427
• Complaints under investigation: 53
• Average complaint resolution period: 15 days

Annual procurement reports and statistical datasets are published by the Public Procurement Bureau and the eProcurement portal.

Sustainability & Green Public Procurement

Green public procurement practices are not mandatory. While environmental strategies and climate-related policy documents exist, no binding procurement targets or certification requirements are enforced.

• Green procurement roadmap: Not mandatory
• Supplier green certification requirements: No
• Monitoring tools for green procurement: No

Social & Ethical Procurement Considerations

The legal framework allows inclusion of social considerations, including participation of women-owned and disadvantaged group-owned businesses, as well as adherence to labor and ethical standards, without fixed spend targets.

Key Challenges & Practical Insights for Bidders

Key Challenges

• High reliance on lowest price evaluation
• Complex documentation requirements
• Limited use of quality-based evaluation methods

Practical Tips

1. Ensure full compliance with ESPP submission rules
2. Monitor annual procurement plans
3. Prepare for electronic reverse auctions
4. Track framework agreement opportunities

Public Procurement in North Macedonia offers a transparent, data-driven, and electronically enabled procurement environment suitable for suppliers seeking reliable access to government tenders in North Macedonia.