Poland’s public procurement market is worth about PLN 587 billion a year, yet much of it remains beyond the reach of domestic firms, particularly smaller ones. That is the gap the government is now trying to close with its State Procurement Policy for 2026-2029, which has been adopted by the Council of Ministers and is designed to make tenders more accessible, less bureaucratic and less narrowly driven by the lowest price.
The scale of the opportunity is striking. The Polish ...
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Economic Institute said in its Billions on the Table report that only 13% of private companies tried to take part in public tender procedures in 2025, while seven in 10 had never submitted a bid at all and were not even considering entering the market. The same institute said the value of public procurement in 2024 reached PLN 587 billion, underlining how much business remains untapped.
The new policy seeks to change that through a mix of practical and strategic measures. According to government materials, it will encourage broader use of advance payments, faster settlement of invoices, clearer documentation and earlier dialogue with businesses before procedures are formally launched. Officials also want procurement to support innovation, sustainability and the country’s wider development strategy, rather than functioning purely as a price competition.
That marks a notable shift in emphasis. For years, firms have complained that public tenders are too formalistic, too difficult to navigate and too risky, especially for smaller contractors without dedicated bid teams. The government’s plan appears to recognise that if procurement is to become a meaningful engine for economic growth, it must be easier to enter and more predictable to execute.
Experts say the policy could open real doors for small and medium-sized enterprises, but only if those firms are ready for a more demanding market. Michał Liżewski, a lawyer at LEGALLY.SMART specialising in procurement law, said that if the new rules genuinely lower barriers, they could amount to one of the most important changes for the SME sector in years.
At the same time, a more open market is likely to raise the bar for bidders. Companies will need stronger documentation, better risk control and greater transparency in how they operate. Those able to build procurement expertise early may be best placed to benefit as the state looks to use its purchasing power not just to buy goods and services, but to strengthen domestic supply chains, support Polish entrepreneurs and reinforce economic security.
The challenge is not only to spend public money, but to spend it in a way that brings more companies into the system. If the policy works as intended, Poland’s procurement market could become less of a closed shop and more of a route to growth for firms that have so far stayed on the sidelines.
Source: Noah Wire Services
