Public Construction Procurement in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

This bachelor’s thesis addresses the issue of public procurement in the construction sector in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Public procurement represents a key tool for managing public finances, with effective administration having a major impact on the quality of completed projects, market transparency, and overall public trust in state institutions. The construction industry is one of the most significant sectors where the public sector acts as an investor, making the procurement process in this field essential for infrastructure development and economic growth. The aim of this thesis is to uncover the differences and similarities in approaches and trends related to public construction procurement between the two countries and to identify potential areas for improvement. The thesis assesses how effectively and transparently the public procurement system for construction projects operates in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It analyses the legal framework, institutional structure, digitalization, evaluation criteria, and practical aspects of procurement, with the goal of identifying best practices that may be transferable between the two countries. To achieve this aim, a comparative method is used, allowing for an in-depth comparison of the legal, institutional, and procedural frameworks of both states. The thesis also draws on a quantitative analysis of data from public databases covering the period 2016–2023, enabling the observation of trends in the volume and number of construction contracts. The empirical section includes a detailed analysis of a sample of above-threshold construction contracts from April 2024, focusing on the types of procurement procedures used and the evaluation criteria applied. The results show that although both countries’ legal frameworks are derived from the same EU directives, significant differences persist in practice. In the Czech Republic, both the number and the value of public construction contracts are higher, while in Slovakia, the number of such contracts has been declining in recent years. Open procedure is the most commonly used procurement method in both countries. As for evaluation criteria, in the Czech Republic, price is frequently combined with additional qualitative factors, whereas in Slovakia, price remains almost exclusively the sole evaluation element. Digitalization of public procurement is more advanced in Slovakia, especially due to the “once-only” principle and better integration of public registers. On the other hand, the Czech system is more detailed from a legislative perspective, which, however, results in a higher administrative burden for market participants. The conclusion of the thesis highlights that both systems have room for improvement. The Czech Republic should aim to enhance digitalization and reduce the administrative burden, while Slovakia should increase the use of multi-criteria evaluation methods. Other recommendations include greater emphasis on qualitative and environmental criteria, improved methodological support for contracting authorities, and enhanced transparency in contract modifications. The thesis thus contributes not only to academic debate but may also serve as inspiration for practical reform of the public procurement systems in both countries.