Prior Information Notice (PIN)

A Prior Information Notice (PIN) is an advance procurement signal published on ted by a European contracting authority to inform the market about contracts it plans to award in the coming months. Publishing a PIN is optional in most cases, but it carries practical advantages for the buyer and creates intelligence opportunities for suppliers.

What is a Prior Information Notice?

A PIN serves two distinct functions depending on how it is used. In its most common role, a PIN is a pipeline signal: the authority announces its planned procurement for the next 12 months so that suppliers can prepare and that the mandatory submission deadlines for the subsequent open-procedure or restricted-procedure can be shortened. If a PIN was published at least 35 days before the contract-notice, the minimum open-procedure submission period drops from 35 to 30 days, and further reductions are available if the full tender documents are made available electronically from the PIN date.

In a second use, a PIN can itself act as a call for competition, specifically for light-touch regime services and for restricted procedures where the PIN invites expressions of interest. In the latter case, only suppliers who respond to the PIN are later invited to tender, and no separate contract notice is published.

Why a Prior Information Notice matters for bidders

PINs are an early-warning system. A supplier that monitors ted for PINs in its CPV categories sees upcoming contracts weeks or months before the formal competition opens, giving time to assess bid-worthiness, form consortium partners, arrange site visits, and prepare qualification documents before the clock starts. This lead time is especially valuable when the subsequent procedure uses shortened deadlines enabled by the PIN publication. Suppliers that ignore PINs and only react to contract notices routinely find themselves with less preparation time than competitors who spotted the pipeline earlier.

FAQ

Is publishing a PIN mandatory?

In most cases a PIN is optional. However, for light-touch regime services used as a call for competition, and for restricted procedures where it substitutes for a contract notice, it becomes the mandatory publication vehicle for that stage of the process.

Does a PIN commit the authority to run the procurement?

No. A PIN is an indicative notice; the authority may cancel or modify the planned procurement without legal consequences. It is a planning signal, not a binding commitment to award a contract.

How far in advance is a PIN typically published?

PINs are commonly published 6 to 12 months before the expected contract notice, though the timing varies by authority and procurement complexity.