The public procurement system in Albania has had a turbulent year in 2025, marked not only by SPAK, but also by a high number of complaints and financial blockages in the Public Procurement Commission. According to an exclusive report by this institution provided by VNA, parts of which were also published yesterday, the total value of tenders for which economic operators have filed complaints and which have been accepted as valid by the commission has reached the staggering figure of 327.3 million euros (33.7 billion lek excluding VAT).
This value represents the "limit fund" for which the complaint has been accepted, which means that important procurement procedures have been forced to be suspended, corrected or canceled, leading to delays in investments and public services.
Map of complaints, goods "targeted"
Although the blocked value of 327 million euros is alarming, it is only part of the overall picture of business dissatisfaction. If we refer to the "unique procedures" published in the electronic system, the total value complained about (regardless of whether the complaint was accepted or not) was even higher, reaching 737.5 million euros (76 billion lek).
From a quantitative point of view, the largest legal battle economic operators have waged has been over goods contracts. Of the total number of unique complaints, 483 of them belonged to this category.
In second place are service contracts with 285 complaints, while the relatively low number of complaints for public works (capital investments) is surprising, with only 95. This suggests that the most acute administrative problems or the most fierce competition are occurring in tenders for basic supplies.
The most critical sectors
By going into detail by product type (within the goods category), the data reveals the sectors where complaints are most frequent:
1. Computer and office machinery, equipment and supplies (excluding furniture and software): This sector leads with 127 complaints. This indicates a problematic competition for equipping the administration with technology.
2. Medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and personal care products: With 116 complaints, this sector remains extremely sensitive, as any delay in these tenders directly affects the service to patients in hospitals.
3. Construction work: Although initially reported under the products category, these 111 complaints are related to construction.
