Abstract

Competitiveness surveys indicate an unsatisfactory participation of SMEs in public procurement. Among the most important barriers faced, enterprises indicate: the domination of the lowest price criterion, a description of the subject matter of the contract that prefers a specific product or service, complex or lengthy procedures, disproportionate requirements from the contracting authorities. A review of the existing legislation suggests that the source of these restrictions are primarily errors in the application of the law. For this reason, it is necessary to strengthen the skills of the contracting authorities. It is equally important to carry out further, in-depth research into the use of alternative research methods.