Clarification questions before an EU tender deadline

Procedures & timing · This guide was generated with the help of an AI system. Its legal references were checked against the official EU texts listed under Sources on 10 October 2026. Next review due by 10 October 2027, or sooner if the law changes. EU rules only. Not legal advice.

Short answer. If you ask in good time, the buyer must send the answer to every tenderer at the latest six days before the tender deadline, or four days in an accelerated procedure (Article 53(2)). If a timely question isn’t answered by then, or the documents change significantly, the buyer must extend the deadline, by a period that matches how much the information matters (Article 47(3)). The Directive doesn’t define “in good time”, so check the documents for a cut-off date and ask well before it. The answer goes to every tenderer, and the documents may publish your question too, so word it so it doesn’t reveal your bid.

EU law · The two rules that set the timetable

Answers have a deadline. “Provided that it has been requested in good time, the contracting authorities shall supply to all tenderers taking part in the procurement procedure additional information relating to the specifications and any supporting documents not later than six days before the time limit fixed for the receipt of tenders.” In an accelerated procedure the period is four days (Article 53(2)).

Late answers and big changes mean more time. The buyer must extend the time limit for tenders so that everyone can know all the information needed to prepare them (Article 47(3)):

• where additional information, “although requested by the economic operator in good time”, is not supplied at the latest six days (or four, in an accelerated procedure) before the deadline, “for whatever reason”;
• where “significant changes” are made to the procurement documents.

The extension must be “proportionate to the importance of the information or change”. No extension is required where the information wasn’t requested in good time, or where its importance for preparing responsive tenders is “insignificant”.

Everyone gets the same information. Buyers must treat economic operators equally and act transparently (Article 18(1)). That is why answers go to all tenderers, not just to the one who asked. The Court has also held that the award criteria must be clearly defined from the start and interpreted in the same way throughout the procedure (TNS Dimarso, C‑6/15, paragraph 23).

Counting the days. The Directive’s time limits are calculated under Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 (recital 106). National law and the documents may say more about how the buyer applies it, for example the time of day of the deadline.

Related rules on access to documents. The buyer must give free, full, direct electronic access to the procurement documents from the date the notice is published. Where some documents can’t be offered that way, the deadline is extended by five days, except in duly substantiated urgency (Article 53(1)).

What the case law adds

Little so far. In the 194 judgments and orders linked to Directives 2014/24 and 2004/18 that we searched on 10 October 2026, none interprets Article 47(3) or Article 53(2) of Directive 2014/24 (method: see our analysis of the scoring formula). The text of the Directive is, for now, the main EU source.

National law · What your country may add

National rules and the procurement documents can fill the gaps: a cut-off for questions, the channel to use, whether questions are published and in what form, and how answers relate to the documents. Read those parts of the documents first.

Our analysis · A timeline that works

The weak point is the phrase “in good time”. It isn’t defined in the Directive. If the documents set no cut-off, a question sent so late that the buyer couldn’t reasonably answer six days before the deadline risks being treated as not in good time. Then no extension is owed.

Practice · What to ask, and how

1. Ask about scoring first. If the documents give a weighting but no formula, ask which formula will turn price into points, how quality marks are awarded, and the rounding rule. A buyer isn’t always obliged to publish its method, but it can choose to answer, and the answer goes to everyone (see must the buyer publish its scoring formula?).
2. Point to conflicts precisely. “Clause 4.2 of the specification requires X; Annex 3 requires Y. Which applies?” is easier to answer, and harder to dodge, than “please clarify the requirements”.
3. Ask neutral questions. Other bidders will see the answer, and possibly your question. Ask “is a solution based on X acceptable?”, not “we intend to offer X at a lower price because…”.
4. Ask about descriptors. If a quality criterion has no description of what earns top marks, ask what the evaluators will look for (see how quality is scored).
5. Read every answer. Answers to other bidders’ questions can change what you must offer. Keep a log of questions, answers and dates.
6. Watch for significant changes. If an answer changes the documents significantly, check whether the deadline has been extended. If it hasn’t, and the change matters to your tender, say so to the buyer in writing before the deadline.
7. Keep the record. If you later challenge the award, the dates of your questions and of the answers will matter (see after the award decision).

What this page doesn’t cover

Requests from the buyer to clarify your tender after submission, which follow different rules (Article 56(3); see when the buyer asks you to clarify your tender). Minimum time limits for each procedure (Articles 27–31). Utilities contracts. National platform rules.