How to read a Prozorro tender: a checklist

Most Ukrainian public purchases are published in Prozorro, and the notice is usually in Ukrainian. You do not need to read everything to decide whether a tender is worth your time. This checklist shows what to look at first and in what order.

1. Find the tender

Every tender has a number in the form UA-2026-10-23-013009-a. Open the tender page on prozorro.gov.ua with that number. On this site, each tender has its own page with an English headline, the list of items and a link to the official page, which is the only authoritative version.

2. Check the basics

The buyer. Who is purchasing, and do they buy regularly? Our tender issuers pages show what an organisation has bought before.
The expected value. Check whether it includes VAT, and the currency.
The product or service code (CPV). It tells you the category and helps you search for similar tenders.
The procedure. An open tender, for example, is different from a simplified or negotiated one, and the rules for who may take part differ.

3. Check the dates and the clock

The deadline for bids and the time zone. Times are Ukrainian local time. A late bid is not accepted.
The period for questions. Many tenders let you ask the buyer to clarify the documents before the deadline.
Delivery or completion dates. Check they are realistic for you, including transport and customs.

4. Read the technical specification

This is the most important part for a supplier. The same word, such as "valve" or "generator", can cover very different products. Read the attached specification for sizes, pressure or power, standards, and certificates. Look for "or equivalent" wording and for what proof of equivalence is required.

5. Check who can bid

Qualification requirements: experience, similar contracts, staff, finances and licences.
Bid security: some tenders require a guarantee. The amount and form are in the documents.
Documents to submit and whether translations or certified copies are needed.

6. Understand how bids are submitted

Bids are sent through authorised electronic platforms, not on the central Prozorro site. Platforms may charge fees. Many procedures include an electronic price auction after the bids are opened. Registration and signing requirements can be demanding for foreign companies, as explained in our guide for foreign bidders.

7. Decide, and plan the next step

If you can meet the specification and the deadline, plan who will prepare the bid and who will handle delivery.
If the deadline is too short, treat the tender as market information: the buyer's specification shows what they buy, and similar tenders often return.
If you cannot bid directly, consider supplying a contractor who will, as described in our guide for foreign bidders.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change. Rely on the official tender documents and take advice from a qualified local lawyer.