Espoo's Procurement Practices to Change with New Legislation

The City of Espoo will adapt to changes in the Procurement Act, effective from October 2026, that aim to increase competition and improve opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A significant change is the requirement for procurements exceeding EU threshold values to be divided into smaller lots, facilitating SME participation in tendering processes. This division allows suppliers to bid on parts of a procurement, even if they cannot fulfill the entire contract. Additionally, for procurements over EUR 10 million, Espoo will need to conduct market consultations or assess different implementation options during planning. These steps are intended to promote efficient use of public funds and enhance transparency. Espoo has already been using market dialogue in procurement preparation, so these practices will be expanded under the new legislation. The changes aim to ensure procurements are designed to support competition and are verifiable retrospectively.