What is ESPD, and how do you fill it in?

The European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) is a single self-declaration used to pre-qualify for EU tenders. It's XML, electronic, and mandatory. Step by step for cross-border bidders.

The ESPD (European Single Procurement Document) became mandatory in 2016 under EU Directive 2014/24. It's an electronic self-declaration where a bidder confirms — before submitting a bid — that it meets exclusion and selection criteria (financial standing, no insolvency, no tax/social-security debt, etc.).

Why ESPD?

Before the directive, each firm assembled 5–15 documents per tender (tax certificate, social security clearance, criminal record, financial statements …). ESPD compresses all of that into a single declaration: 'I can produce these documents on request.' Only the winning bidder submits the originals.

For cross-border firms

The form is identical for everyone — EU member, candidate or third-country firm.
Fill it in the tender language or English. A form in a language the buyer does not accept is not evaluated.
Section II-A: company registration + VAT/tax number + address. A non-EU firm enters its tax ID under its own country's label (e.g. 'Turkish Tax ID', 'UK UTR').
Section III-A: declaration of no insolvency / bankruptcy.
Section III-B: no tax or social-security debt. You obtain the clearance letter from your own authority (SGK and the tax office in Turkey, Finanzamt + Krankenkasse in Germany) and submit it only if you win.
Section IV: financial capacity, industry experience, certificates (ISO 9001, 14001, etc.).

How to fill it in

eForms XML generator: espd.eu.europa.eu → 'Economic Operator' → start in English
The buyer publishes a tender-specific XML request; you continue from there
Seal with an electronic signature and upload it to the tender platform
Qualified electronic signatures under eIDAS 2 are valid cross-border — Turkey's KEP + e-imza is accepted on this basis
If your country's signature infrastructure is not on the eIDAS trust list, obtain a qualified signature from an EU-established provider

Common mistakes

Filling the form in a language the buyer does not accept → rejected at evaluation
Filing one form for a consortium → each partner needs a separate ESPD
Skipping the ESPD for subcontractors → some buyers require it

In BidIndex's 'Guide' section we note country-specific quirks: France requires DC1/DC2 alongside the ESPD; Germany attaches acceptance of VOB-B special clauses.