Public procurement and performance · France and Switzerland : separate country-labelled rules
5 evidence groups for explaining an unusually low bid
An unusually low bid should be explained using the actual project, cost evidence, organisation and any relevant support. France and Switzerland have distinct procurement procedures for the authority's enquiry. A low figure is not itself a completed legal finding. The evidence schedule answers the questions received without inventing a mandatory profit margin or promising acceptance of the tender.
- Received explanation request
- Cost assumptions
- Resources and organisation
- Special conditions and response
- Official texts cited
- Sources checked on
- Drafted with AI assistance, our method
General legal information with official references and dated checks. It is not personalised advice: for a decision that commits you, have your situation checked by a qualified professional.
Julie by AlphaDeep
Which cost assumptions support the bid?
Match quantities, time, supplies and subcontracting. An attractive price alone does not establish manifest undervaluation under L2152-5.
Read the referencesYour question concerns “5 evidence groups for explaining an unusually low bid”. I can help organise the facts and records. Which document have you received or prepared, and is this a French or Swiss matter?
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What exactly did the buyer ask about the price?
Keep request, questioned items and stated deadline. France's L2152-6 provides explanations before rejection within its scope.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Which records are still missing from your file?
Indicate which records you have. The result identifies gaps and prepares a complete question for Julie, without requiring an account.
Fictional example · Your preparation
Point to complete: Special conditions and response. French R2152-3 includes different justification categories. Identify real evidence without inventing technical savings, aid or compliance.
- Received explanation request
- Record available
- Cost assumptions
- Record available
- Resources and organisation
- Record available
- Special conditions and response
- Needs checking
- Records indicated
- 3 / 4
- Which favourable conditions are relied upon?
This worksheet organises records; it does not establish admissibility, entitlement or a procedural outcome.
Which preparation steps come first?
Editorial preparation order, not a popularity or success-probability ranking. Answer the actual request with costs and resources of the existing bid.
Buyer’s exact request
Keep request, questioned items and stated deadline. France's L2152-6 provides explanations before rejection within its scope.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Bid cost assumptions
Match quantities, time, supplies and subcontracting. An attractive price alone does not establish manifest undervaluation under L2152-5.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Available resources and organisation
Document method, organisation, resources and actual technical conditions. A marketing promise does not explain questioned cost items.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Claimed conditions or support
French R2152-3 includes different justification categories. Identify real evidence without inventing technical savings, aid or compliance.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Supported answer without a new bid
A request does not automatically grant repricing or negotiation. Answer the actual questions without assuming permission to alter the tender.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Which cost assumptions support the bid?
Match quantities, time, supplies and subcontracting. An attractive price alone does not establish manifest undervaluation under L2152-5.
Which resources support credible performance?
Document method, organisation, resources and actual technical conditions. A marketing promise does not explain questioned cost items.
Which favourable conditions are relied upon?
French R2152-3 includes different justification categories. Identify real evidence without inventing technical savings, aid or compliance.
Which documents answer which questions?
| Record or information | Issue to check |
|---|---|
| Received explanation request | Keep request, questioned items and stated deadline. France's L2152-6 provides explanations before rejection within its scope. |
| Cost assumptions | Match quantities, time, supplies and subcontracting. An attractive price alone does not establish manifest undervaluation under L2152-5. |
| Resources and organisation | Document method, organisation, resources and actual technical conditions. A marketing promise does not explain questioned cost items. |
| Special conditions and response | French R2152-3 includes different justification categories. Identify real evidence without inventing technical savings, aid or compliance. |
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Does Switzerland use an automatic low-price percentage?
No such threshold is established here. LMP 38(3) concerns enquiries about unusually low total price;44(2)(c) addresses specified failure to substantiate compliance and reliable performance.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Which official provision helps explain this situation?
Une offre anormalement basse est une offre dont le prix est manifestement sous-évalué et de nature à compromettre la bonne exécution du marché.
In plain English: No such threshold is established here. LMP 38(3) concerns enquiries about unusually low total price;44(2)(c) addresses specified failure to substantiate compliance and reliable performance.
Should subcontracted costs be omitted?
No. Include relevant subcontracted scope in the explanation. Outsourcing does not make those costs irrelevant.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Can the explanation become a replacement bid?
A request does not automatically grant repricing or negotiation. Answer the actual questions without assuming permission to alter the tender.
What does the justification file deliver?
It links request, costs, resources and records. It certifies no viability and guarantees no acceptance.
What other questions arise in this file?
Which cost assumptions support the bid?
Match quantities, time, supplies and subcontracting. An attractive price alone does not establish manifest undervaluation under L2152-5.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Which favourable conditions are relied upon?
French R2152-3 includes different justification categories. Identify real evidence without inventing technical savings, aid or compliance.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Does Switzerland use an automatic low-price percentage?
No such threshold is established here. LMP 38(3) concerns enquiries about unusually low total price;44(2)(c) addresses specified failure to substantiate compliance and reliable performance.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Can the explanation become a replacement bid?
A request does not automatically grant repricing or negotiation. Answer the actual questions without assuming permission to alter the tender.
Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offres172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationService Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recours
Which official references should you consult?
- Code de la commande publique art. L2152-5Légifrance
- Code de la commande publique art. L2152-6Légifrance
- Code de la commande publique art. R2152-3Légifrance
- 172.056.1 : Art. 38 Examen des offresFedlex
- 172.056.1 : Art. 44 Exclusion de la procédure et révocation de l’adjudicationFedlex
- Service Public Entreprendre : rejet de l’offre et recoursSource officielle
Texts cited last checked: 1 November 2026