Prior consultation
Short definition
Prior consultation (consulta prévia) is the Public Contracts Code procedure in which the contracting authority directly invites at least three entities of its choice to submit tenders.
In plain language
It sits between direct award and open tender: more competition than the former, less formality than the latter. Since 1 October 2026 (Decree-Law 177/2026), it can be used to purchase goods and services when the estimated contract value is below €130,000 (previously €75,000). The same revision created a special prior consultation, with invitations to at least five entities, for higher values below the EU thresholds.