Exclusion Grounds
As Gaeilge: Forais Eisiata
Last reviewed April 2026
Reasons a bidder must (mandatory) or may (discretionary) be barred from competing — convictions, tax debt, insolvency, prior misconduct.
Set out in Regulations 57–58 of S.I. 284/2016. Mandatory exclusion grounds include conviction for organised crime, corruption, fraud, terrorist offences, money laundering, child labour, and human trafficking — exclusion is automatic and applies for five years. Discretionary grounds include breach of environmental/social/labour obligations, insolvency, professional misconduct, distortion of competition, conflict of interest, prior poor performance on a public contract, and significant misrepresentation in a procurement procedure. Self-cleaning is permitted in some cases — bidders can demonstrate remedial action and reliability to be re-admitted.
Related terms
ESPD (European Single Procurement Document)
Standardised self-declaration confirming you meet exclusion grounds and selection criteria — required on EU-threshold tenders.
Selection Criteria
Minimum requirements a supplier must meet to be considered — financial standing, technical capability, tax clearance.