Guide updated 11 July 2026
What goes in each envelope
In a public tender the bid is split into envelopes so that the evaluation committee can assess the subjective part WITHOUT knowing the price. That is why the error that excludes the most bids is not one of content: it is putting something in the wrong envelope.
Envelope A: administrative documentation
In the open procedure, the DEUC (European Single Procurement Document, ESPD) or the declaration of honour that the tender specifications ask for, and the annexes they require: joint-venture (UTE) commitment, pooling of capacity with other companies, commitment of resources, subcontracting, submission to the Spanish courts if you are a foreign company. Nothing goes here that would allow your price, or what is assessed by formula, to be deduced (arts. 139.2 and 157.2 LCSP).
Envelope B: value-judgement criteria
The technical proposal and whatever the committee assesses at its own discretion: methodology, organisation, work plan. Respect the page limit, the font size and the format set by the specifications: if the specifications penalise it, going over excludes you. And not a euro, not a percentage of discount, not any of the data that score by formula, even in passing.
Envelope C: formula criteria
The financial proposal according to the specifications' model, with VAT separate, and whatever else scores automatically: delivery times, years of warranty, certifications, additional resources. Check that you do not exceed the base budget (with VAT against with VAT, without VAT against without VAT) or the cap of any line item.
When there are three, two or one envelope
Three in the open procedure with criteria of both types; two if there are only formula criteria (A and C). In the simplified open procedure (art. 159) there is no DEUC: the declaration goes in the bid model and being registered in the ROLECE by the end of the deadline is mandatory. In the abbreviated simplified procedure (art. 159.6: works under €80,000 and supplies or services under €60,000) there is a single envelope.
Review it before uploading
AIM PAPYR's Sobre listo reviews the three envelopes at once: it looks for amounts and formula criteria out of place, counts the pages of the PDF you are about to upload, measures the font, compares your bid with the budget, checks the signatures and tells you which tribunal ruling backs each warning. Free, instant and without saving anything.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I put the price in envelope B?
It can exclude you: the central tribunal has confirmed it several times (TACRC 1483/2022, 81/2026). The exclusion is not automatic if the information does not reveal the bid, but it is a risk not worth taking.
Can envelope A contain amounts?
Yes, those of solvency: turnover, insurance, guarantees. What it cannot contain is anything from your financial offer.
What is the ROLECE and when do I need it?
The State's official register of bidders. In the simplified open procedure you must be registered (or have applied) before the deadline ends; it cannot be remedied afterwards.