Tender Terms Explained: Lot, Buyer, Supplier, Deposit, EDS, Protocol

Why suppliers need to know the terms

Tender documents look complicated until you break them into simple parts. If you know what a lot, buyer, supplier, deposit, EDS and protocol mean, you find the right tenders faster and make fewer mistakes in your bids. This article is a short glossary with examples. All numbers come from TenderLabs data.

A lot is one specific purchase inside an announcement

A lot is the smallest unit you can bid on. One announcement can have several lots: for example, a buyer needs office supplies, furniture and computers — that is three separate lots. You can bid only on the lot you want and do not have to apply for all of them.

Each lot has its own details: what is being bought, quantity, quality requirements, delivery dates and starting price. Read the lot description carefully — sometimes one title hides several different items.

As of 13 November 2026, TenderLabs has 17,544 open lots. In the last week alone, 36,349 new lots appeared — 20% more than the week before. Over the month, 96,098 lots were added. That flow is easy to miss if you do not set filters for your goods and services.

The buyer is the organisation that announced the purchase

The buyer is the organisation buying goods, works or services. It can be a government body, a company with state share, or a private company if it runs open tenders. The announcement always names the buyer, its contacts and its requirements.

The buyer creates the lot, sets the starting price and the rules. It also reviews bids and picks the winner. Knowing who the buyer is helps you judge your chances: large state bodies often have higher demands for experience and paperwork.

Before you bid, study the buyer's history: what lots it posted before, who won, what the terms were. That shows you its approach and possible difficulties.

The supplier is the one who bids

The supplier is you, when you submit a bid for a lot. A supplier can be an individual entrepreneur, a legal entity or a natural person — depending on the rules of the specific tender. To take part, you must meet the buyer's requirements: have the necessary licences, certificates, experience and financial stability.

In tenders, the supplier must act openly and give accurate information. If you provide false data, your bid can be rejected and you can be put on the register of unreliable suppliers. That limits your participation in future tenders.

Check your documents in advance: registration certificate, charter, tax debt clearance. Buyers often ask for exactly these papers.

The deposit is security for your bid or for the contract

A deposit (or bid security) is money you pay to show you are serious. If you win, the deposit can be counted toward the contract or returned after signing. If you refuse after winning or break the terms, the deposit can be kept.

The buyer sets the deposit amount and payment rules in the documents. Rules differ: some tenders need no deposit, others ask for a percentage of the lot's starting price. Always check the specific announcement.

Do not confuse the deposit with contract performance security — they are different. Performance security is paid after you win and guarantees you do the work well and on time. Its amount is also in the documents.

EDS is your electronic digital signature

EDS (electronic digital signature) replaces a handwritten signature on electronic documents. It proves the document was signed by you and has not changed since. Without EDS you cannot submit a bid on most electronic platforms.

You get EDS from a certification centre. Usually you need a passport, tax ID, an application and sometimes a power of attorney if a representative signs. The process takes a few days, so plan ahead.

EDS comes in different types: for legal entities, for individual entrepreneurs, for natural persons. Make sure your signature works for the tender platform you plan to use. Check the expiry date: an expired EDS will not let you submit a bid.

The protocol is the document with bid review results

The protocol is the official document that records how the tender went and what the results are. After bids are opened, the buyer draws up an opening protocol listing all participants and their prices. Then comes the bid review protocol: which bids were accepted, which were rejected and why. The final protocol names the winner.

Protocols are published on the platform, and suppliers can read them. If your bid was rejected, the protocol must state the reason. That helps you fix mistakes next time.

Sometimes protocols are called "final protocols" or "evaluation protocols". The point is the same: they sum up the tender. Read the protocols for your lots carefully — they may show price cuts or extra requirements.

Other useful terms

• Starting price — the maximum price the buyer will pay. Participants offer prices below it.
• Bid — the set of documents and the supplier's offer submitted for a lot.
• Auction — a tender method where the winner is chosen by the lowest price offered.
• Competition — a tender that evaluates not only price but also qualifications, experience and quality.
• Register of unreliable suppliers — a list of companies that broke contract terms. Being on it limits your participation in tenders.
• Technical specification — a document with detailed requirements for the goods, works or services.
• Qualification selection — a check that the supplier meets the buyer's requirements.

These terms appear in almost every announcement. The better you know them, the more confident you feel when preparing a bid.

How to use this glossary in practice

Start small: pick one lot in your field and go through its documents using these terms. See what requirements the buyer sets, whether there is a deposit, whether you need EDS. Then study the protocols for similar tenders — that shows how competitive the price is and what rejection reasons come up.

Set up TenderLabs alerts for your keywords so you do not miss new lots. The platform now has more than 17 thousand open lots, and some of them likely fit you. Analyse, bid, gain experience — and the tender language will become a familiar working tool.

If something in the documents is unclear, ask the buyer questions through the platform. Clarifying is a normal part of the process and helps you avoid mistakes.