Montenegro awarded 2,025 public procurement contracts worth approximately 152.2 million euros through procedures that attracted only one bid in the first half of 2026, accounting for more than 42% of contracts. The figures come from a Finance Ministry report adopted by the Government of Montenegro on 5 November 2026. A high share of single-bid awards limits contracting authorities’ ability to compare prices and commercial terms.
The report’s principal statistical summary covered 715.6 million euros in contract value. Public authorities conducted 4,105 procurement procedures and concluded 4,793 contracts during the period. The 152.2 million euros awarded after a single bid represented 21.3% of the value in that summary.
Goods made up the largest number of single-bid awards, with 944 contracts worth approximately 57 million euros. Services accounted for 880 contracts valued at 49.3 million euros, while public works accounted for 201 contracts worth 45.8 million euros.
Competition and procurement procedures
A contract awarded after receiving one bid does not necessarily indicate a legal violation or an inflated price. Specialised technical requirements, limited supplier availability or markets with few appropriately qualified companies can leave a procedure with only one bidder. Even in those cases, fewer offers mean less scope for authorities to compare commercial terms.
The report also recorded 63 negotiated procedures without prior publication of a public call. They resulted in 142 contracts worth approximately 77.3 million euros. Such procedures are allowed under defined legal conditions, but require careful justification because they restrict ordinary competitive tendering.
Contracted values were approximately 2.97% below estimated procurement values in the first half of 2026, a reported saving of approximately 21.9 million euros against estimates. That difference alone does not establish whether prices were economically efficient. A fuller assessment would compare unit prices, bidding participation, contract amendments and the performance of completed works and services.
Domestic suppliers and public spending
Public works represented the largest category by contract value, at approximately 377.8 million euros, followed by goods at 253.7 million euros and services at 84.1 million euros. Domestic bidders secured approximately 665.9 million euros, or more than 93% of the reported contract value.
The domestic share underscores the importance of state purchasing for companies based in Montenegro, including businesses in construction, engineering, equipment supply and professional services. It does not, on its own, show whether new suppliers have effective access to compete.
Procurement transparency and equal treatment are indicators of institutional predictability for foreign investors. As Montenegro approaches EU membership and prepares to administer larger infrastructure and development programmes, the report points to the need for stronger procurement planning, transparent technical specifications, wider market participation and closer scrutiny of procedures that attract only one offer. The test is whether public spending can deliver better infrastructure and services through genuine competition and demonstrable value for money.
