The application can be submitted using a Dume: titleContent completed online or standard forms DC1 and DC2. The buyer sometimes requires that the response be transmitted with a Dume.

The candidate shall provide in his application file the following:

• Declaration on Honor to justify that there is no prohibition on tendering for a public contract
• Documents and information which enable the purchaser to verify his ability to carry out his professional activity, his economic, financial, technical and professional capacities.

In the case of a grouped application, each of the members of the company grouping must present their candidature (Dume or a DC1 and a DC2)

When submitting an application, the public purchaser may not require the group of economic operators to have a specified legal form (solidarity group or joint group).

On the other hand, the public purchaser may require that the group of companies have a specific legal form (joint or several) after the award of the contract, only if necessary for the proper performance of the contract. In this case, the public purchaser must specify this in the consultation documents. This allows excluded companies not to have to take steps to adopt a particular shape that generate additional costs and time.

The Dume: titleContent (Single European Market Document) is a electronic standardized form which allows candidates to apply. It is based on a standard form drawn up by the European Commission. It is used by economic operators and by public purchasers.

Once completed, the Dume is saved and archived. It can then be modified and reused for all public procurement within the the European Union (EU).

It also allows the candidate to formalize his declaration on honor certifying the following:

• It does not fall within the criteria for exclusion from the market.
• It fulfills the selection criteria.
• It undertakes to provide the information required by the public purchaser.

The buyer can never refuse the submission of applications in the form of a Dume. On the other hand, the use of the Dume to apply for the award of a public contract is never compulsory.

The Dume is available:

• via the buyer profiles which have implemented the Dume service proposed by the State

• via the Dume service available on the website Chorus Pro

Use the Single European Market Document (Dume) service offered by Chorus Pro

• via the free eDume online service proposed by the European Commission

Fill out an E-Dume

Thanks to the Dume service offered by Chorus pro, the candidate for the public contract is not obliged to provide the information already known to the administrations in application of the principle “Tell us once”. A candidate who has established an online Dume does not need to submit a certificate of fiscal regularity and a certificate of vigilance.

THEeconomic operator may apply by filling in the standard forms “declaration of the candidate” DC1 and DC2 set up by the Ministry of the Economy. In the event of recourse to the outsourcing, he must also fill in the form DC4 subcontractor declaration which presents the subcontractor.

Form DC1: Application letter

This form DC1 is a model application letter addressed to the public purchaser in the form of a declaration on honor certifying that the applicant does not meet the criteria for exclusion from the contract.

It shall be completed by the candidate for the contract or by the authorized representative in the event of an answer in grouping of companies. In case of allotment, it can be common to several lots.

Form DC1: template for application letter

The DC1 consists of the following elements:

• Identification the contracting authority (i.e. the public purchaser)
• Purpose of the consultation : Content of the statement on the subject of the consultation
• Purpose of the application : Bid submitted for the whole public procurement or for all lots or for certain lots
• Presentation of the candidate identifies the candidate who can run alone or constitute a company grouping (spouse or joint and several)
• Identification of the members of the group and distribution of benefits. Several companies can join forces in order to pool their skills in order to respond to a public contract, this association can then take the form of a Temporary company Grouping (GME).
  The companies of the GME are represented to the buyer by a agent who is his sole interlocutor. The trustee is responsible for coordinating the intervention of the companies of the consortium and for ensuring the administrative and financial management of the contract. It can also be solidarity of all the Member companies of the group. In this case, a clause explicitly mentions it in the contract
• Appointment of the authorized representative and authorization (in case of grouping): the companies of the GME are represented to the buyer by an agent who is his sole interlocutor. It is responsible for signing the contract, coordinating the intervention of the companies of the consortium and ensuring the administrative and financial management of the contract. It can also be solidarity of all the Member companies of the group. In this case, a clause explicitly mentions this in the contract.
• Candidate's commitment individual or each member of the group who attest to honor it does not enter into a case of exclusion from a public contract

Form DC2: Declaration of the individual candidate or group member

Form DC2 completes form DC1. In the case of a group application, it is completed by each member of the group and in the case of allotment, it must be provided for each of the lots of the consultation.

It clarifies the following:

• Identification of the candidate : trade name, company name of the individual candidate, address of his establishment and registered office, email address, telephone numbers and SIRET number, legal form of the individual candidate or of each of the members of the grouping (E.G.
• Information on its ability to carry out the professional activity. The applicant shall also provide his unique identification number (Siren). When practicing a regulated profession requiring registration on a professional register, he shall provide proof of such registration.
• Information on the economic and financial capacity of the individual candidate or group member: turnover excluding tax for the last 3 years available. For works contracts, the applicant declares that he has taken out an insurance contract concerning the ten-year liability. An applicant who constructs a building or renovates a structure is required to take out insurance in the event of serious damage to the structure constructed or renovated and which occurs within 10 years of receiving the work. The applicant may submit a supporting document or indicate the link to the website where the buyer can obtain these documents.
• Information on the technical and professional capacity of the candidate: human and technical resources (technical equipment and equipment available to the candidate). The applicant may submit a supporting document or indicate the link to the website where the buyer can obtain these documents.

Form DC2: template for the applicant’s declaration

Form DC4: Subcontracting declaration

In the event of recourse to the outsourcing, the applicant must also complete the DC4 form to present the subcontractor(s).

The subcontracting declaration shall include the following information:

• Nature of subcontracted services
• Name, name or business name and address of the proposed subcontractor
• Maximum amount to be paid to the subcontractor
• Payment terms provided for in the draft subcontract and, where applicable, the terms of price variation
• Professional, technical and financial capabilities of the subcontractor on which the applicant relies
• Subcontractor's statement that it is not subject to a ban on access to public procurement

The declaration of subcontracting shall be signed by the company tendering for the public contract, the subcontractor and the public purchaser.

Public procurement - Candidate statements

In the case of adapted procedure contracts (Mapa), the deadline for submitting applications shall be determined by the public purchaser. In setting that time limit, it shall take into account the complexity of the public procurement and the time required for the economic operators to prepare their application.

In markets to formalized procedureHowever, the deadlines differ according to the type of contract. The contract may be awarded in one of the following ways: by invitation to tender, by the procedure with negotiation or by the competitive dialog procedure.

To know these deadlines, refer to the sheet ‘handing over the answer to a public contract’.

The means and deadlines for submitting the candidate company's application file depend on the amount of the public contract.

For the public procurement of an amount equal to or greater than €40,000 , the application file and the offer must be transmitted through a dematerialization platform called profile of buyers.

Below an amount of €40,000However, the dematerialization of the procedure is not mandatory. It is possible to use a dedicated mailbox with the sending of an acknowledgement of receipt indicating the date and time of receipt.

To learn more about dematerialization, you can consult the fact sheet on the delivery of the response to a public procurement contract.

The regulations do not require that the Dume or forms DC1, DC2 be signed by hand or electronically by the candidate. However, the public purchaser may require in the consultation documents that the application be signed.