USE OF "THE LOWEST PRICE" AWARD CRITERION IN THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN ROMANIA

Taking into account the very large sums being spent through the Romanian public procurement system (approximately 8% of the GDP), analysing the award criteria used in the procurement procedures is an important element that influences the achievement of the economic and social efficiency of procurement. The article describes the criteria for public procurement award in Romania, focusing on the most used criterion, namely the lowest price. It also presents the advantages and disadvantages of using this criterion, statistical situations at national and European level, the difficulties encountered in using this criterion by contracting authorities and the vulnerabilities of tenderers participating in the procurement procedures which use for the award the criterion under consideration.