The ESPD (European Single Procurement Document) is a single self-declaration of your administrative, financial and technical situation. Since 2018, contracting authorities across the EU must accept it in above-threshold procedures; in France, it can replace the national DC1 and DC2 forms. But if it is filled in incorrectly, your application can be rejected outright.
The ESPD is Europe's administrative passport for public procurement. Created by Directive 2014/24/EU and transposed into each member state's law, it allows an economic operator to declare that it meets the selection criteria without providing supporting documents at the application stage. Supporting documents (certificates, financial statements, detailed references) are only requested from the bidder about to be awarded the contract.
💡 Good to know: The ESPD often coexists with national forms. In France, for example, many buyers accept either the ESPD or the DC1/DC2 forms. Check the requirements of the tender regulations for each contract.
The structure of the ESPD: 6 parts
This part is completed by the contracting authority or imported from its platform. It contains the notice number, the buyer's identity and information about the contract. Do not change it.
Company identity (name, registration number, legal form, contact details), information about legal representatives, subcontractors and any consortium members. Check that the registration number matches exactly the entity that signs.
Self-declaration on mandatory exclusion grounds (criminal convictions, tax fraud, corruption…) and discretionary ones. Answer "No" to every question if none applies to you. A single "Yes" leads to automatic exclusion unless corrective measures apply.
The most important section of the application: economic and financial standing (turnover, insurance), technical and professional ability (staff, references, certifications). Depending on the contract, only the sub-criteria requested by the buyer are mandatory. You can also tick "α" (alpha) to confirm that you meet all criteria without detailing them, if the buyer allows it.
Only used in procedures with a shortlist (restricted procedure, competitive dialogue, innovation partnership). If the tender regulations do not mention this part, leave it blank.
Date, place, electronic signature of the legal representative. You certify that the information provided is accurate and complete. This is the part that gives the whole document legal value.
The most common mistakes to avoid
Reusing an ESPD from another contract without changing it
Part I must match the contract you are bidding for. An ESPD containing information from another contract will be rejected. If you import a previous ESPD, make absolutely sure Part I has been updated.
Leaving mandatory sections blank
Every section marked "mandatory" in the tender regulations must be completed. A single blank section can make your application incomplete and therefore inadmissible.
Wrong submission format
The ESPD must be provided in XML format (for European interoperability) or PDF, depending on the platform's requirements. Check which format is accepted before generating your document.
Forgetting subcontractors or consortium partners
If you bid as a consortium or with subcontractors, each entity must provide its own ESPD. A single ESPD for the whole consortium is not enough.
Store and reuse your ESPDs with CezanneAO
CezanneAO lets you store your approved ESPDs and reuse them quickly for new applications, updating only the sections that change.
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