# Italian Public Procurement Sub-Lexicon

Italian-specific terms and references for public procurement. These entities, regulations, and procedures are Italy-specific and should be translated to English in the main lexicon.

## Italian-Specific Entities and Authorities

| Italian term | English equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ANAC | ANAC (Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority) | Italian regulator; established under Law 190/2012. On first mention, explain as "the Italian regulator responsible for procurement oversight and corruption prevention". |
| SOA / attestazione SOA | SOA certification / works qualification | Italian-specific certification system for construction contractors. SOA = Società di Attestazione (Certification Body). Categories range from I–VIII based on contract value. |
| categoria e classifica SOA | SOA category and classification | Italian system for rating contractor capacity in construction works. |
| Codice dei Contratti Pubblici (D.Lgs. 36/2023) | Public Contracts Code (Legislative Decree No. 36/2023) | Italy's primary public procurement legislation, effective from January 1, 2023. Implements Directives 2014/24, 2014/25, 2014/23. Previous code was D.Lgs. 50/2016. |
| D.Lgs. 50/2016 | Legislative Decree 50/2016 (superseded) | Italy's former public procurement code. Check document date to determine which applies. |
| Certificazione Antimafia | Anti-mafia certification | Italian-required certification from the Anti-Mafia Division confirming no mafia ties. Required for some public works contracts. |

## Italian Procurement Procedures and Concepts

| Italian term | English equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Responsabile Unico del Progetto (RUP) | Project Manager (contracting authority) / Contract Manager | Italian term for the single official responsible for managing the procurement and contract on behalf of the contracting authority. Often not used in English contracts; refer to specific role instead. |
| Stazione appaltante | Contracting authority | Italian term; the entity responsible for commissioning. |
| Amministrazione aggiudicatrice | Contracting authority | Synonym for stazione appaltante used in the EU directives context. |
| Ente aggiudicatore | Contracting entity | Used for utilities or other entities subject to the Utilities Directive. |
| Operatore economico | Economic operator | Any natural or legal person offering goods or services. |
| Appalto pubblico | Public contract | Generic term for all public procurement contracts. |
| Appalto di lavori | Works contract | Contract for construction/infrastructure works. |
| Appalto di servizi | Service contract | Contract for services (design, consulting, maintenance, etc.). |
| Appalto di forniture | Supply contract | Contract for goods. |
| Concessione | Concession | Agreement transferring operational/financial risk to the concessionaire. |
| Concessione di lavori | Works concession | Concession for construction and operation of infrastructure. |
| Concessione di servizi | Service concession | Concession for operation of public services. |
| Partenariato pubblico-privato (PPP) | Public-private partnership | Structured collaboration between public authority and private entity. |
| Project financing | Project finance | Financing structure for large PPP/concession projects. |
| Finanza di progetto | Project finance | Synonym for project financing. |
| Raggruppamento temporaneo di imprese (RTI) / Associazione temporanea di imprese (ATI) | Temporary grouping / joint venture / consortium | Association of economic operators for a single tender. Dissolved after contract completion. ATI is the traditional name under Law 109/1994; RTI is used under the current Codice dei Contratti Pubblici. |
| Raggruppamento orizzontale | Horizontal grouping | Members share the same type of works/services, pro-rata. |
| Raggruppamento verticale | Vertical grouping | Lead member performs the main works; mandanti perform ancillary works. |
| Raggruppamento misto | Mixed grouping | Combines horizontal and vertical arrangements. |
| Consorzio stabile | Permanent consortium | Long-term association of contractors, remains intact across multiple projects. |
| Avvalimento | Reliance on third-party resources | An operator relying on another entity's technical/financial capacity; governed by Article 104 of D.Lgs. 36/2023 (implementing Article 63 of Directive 2014/24/EU). |
| Avvalimento operativo | Operational reliance | Reliance where the auxiliary undertaking contributes its own resources to performance. |
| Avvalimento di garanzia | Guarantee-based reliance | Reliance where the auxiliary undertaking contributes its financial standing only (not operational resources). |
| Soccorso istruttorio | Remedial documentation procedure | Formal opportunity given by the contracting authority to cure minor documentary defects in a tender. |
| MEPA | Mercato Elettronico della Pubblica Amministrazione (MEPA — Public Administration Electronic Marketplace) | National e-procurement platform for below-threshold contracts. |
| Consip | Consip S.p.A. | Central procurement body of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. |

## Italian Tender and Procurement Procedures

| Italian term | English equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Procedura di gara | Procurement procedure / tender procedure | Generic term for any competitive bidding process. |
| Procedura aperta | Open procedure | Procurement open to all interested parties. |
| Procedura ristretta | Restricted procedure | Procurement limited to invited or pre-qualified operators. |
| Procedura negoziata | Negotiated procedure | Competitive negotiation with selected operators. |
| Procedura negoziata senza pubblicazione | Negotiated procedure without prior publication | Used in limited circumstances (emergency, insufficient tenders, etc.). |
| Dialogo competitivo | Competitive dialogue | Structured interactive process to develop complex contract terms. |
| Partenariato per l'innovazione | Innovation partnership | Procedure for developing and procuring innovative solutions. |
| Affidamento in house | In-house provision | Contracts between public bodies where one is under control of the other; exempt from public procurement rules. Also called "Teckal exemption" (from EU case law). |
| Teckal exemption | In-house provision exemption | Derived from CJEU case law; exempts in-house contracts from EU procurement rules. |
| Bando di gara | Contract notice / tender notice | Published announcement inviting tenders. |
| Avviso di preinformazione | Prior information notice (PIN) | Preliminary notice of planned procurement. |
| Avviso di aggiudicazione | Contract award notice | Notice announcing award decision. |
| Disciplinare di gara | Tender specifications / tender rules | Document setting out the bidding requirements and conditions. |
| Capitolato | Specifications | Technical and performance requirements. |
| Capitolato speciale d'appalto | Special conditions / particular conditions | Specific terms for a particular contract. |
| Capitolato generale | General conditions | Standard contractual terms. |
| Lettera di invito | Invitation to tender | Formal invitation to submit a tender. |
| Offerta | Tender / bid | An economic operator's submission. |
| Offerta economica | Financial offer / price tender | The cost component of the bid. |
| Offerta tecnica | Technical offer / technical proposal | The technical component of the bid. |
| Plico / busta | Envelope | Physical or electronic container for bid documents. |
| Apertura delle buste | Opening of tenders | Formal procedure to open submitted tenders. |
| Commissione di gara | Evaluation committee / tender board | Committee evaluating tenders against award criteria. |
| Criterio di aggiudicazione | Award criterion | Basis for selecting the successful tender. |
| Offerta economicamente più vantaggiosa (MEAT) | Most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) | Award criterion balancing price and quality. |
| Prezzo più basso | Lowest price | Award criterion using cost alone. |
| Miglior rapporto qualità/prezzo | Best price-quality ratio | Award criterion balancing cost and quality. |
| Anomalia dell'offerta | Abnormally low tender | Tender with a price substantially below market. |
| Verifica di congruità | Abnormality check / tender verification | Investigation of abnormally low offers. |
| Aggiudicazione | Award | Decision to select a successful tenderer. |
| Aggiudicazione provvisoria | Provisional award | Conditional award pending standstill or appeal. |
| Aggiudicazione definitiva | Final award | Award confirmed after all procedural requirements met. |
| Stipula del contratto | Execution of the contract | Signing and commencement of the contract. |

## Italian Qualification and Eligibility Terms

| Italian term | English equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Requisiti di partecipazione | Participation requirements / eligibility criteria | Conditions for bidders to participate. |
| Requisiti di capacità tecnica | Technical capacity requirements | Proof of ability to perform (equipment, personnel, experience). |
| Requisiti di capacità economico-finanziaria | Economic and financial standing | Proof of financial stability (turnover, assets, credit rating). |
| Requisiti di idoneità professionale | Professional suitability | Professional qualifications and absence of grounds for exclusion. |
| Documento di Gara Unico Europeo (DGUE) | ESPD (European Single Procurement Document) | EU standard self-certification form. |
| Cause di esclusione | Grounds for exclusion | Circumstances excluding an operator from bidding. |
| Cause di esclusione obbligatoria | Mandatory grounds for exclusion | Required exclusions (criminal convictions, professional misconduct, etc.). |
| Cause di esclusione facoltativa | Discretionary grounds for exclusion | Optional exclusions at authority's discretion. |
| Dichiarazione sostitutiva | Self-declaration | Signed statement by bidder of compliance with eligibility criteria. |
| Casellario giudiziario | Criminal record / judicial records | Italian record of criminal convictions. |
| Cauzione provvisoria | Tender guarantee / bid bond | Security ensuring bid performance. |
| Cauzione definitiva | Performance guarantee / performance bond | Security ensuring contract performance. |
| Garanzia fideiussoria | Surety bond | Guarantee by third party (bank, insurer). |

## Italian Contract Execution Terms

| Italian term | English equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Direttore dei lavori | Works supervisor / engineer | Official overseeing construction execution. |
| Direttore dell'esecuzione | Contract manager | Official administering the contract. |
| Contabilità dei lavori | Works accounts | Records of transactions and claims during performance. |
| Stato di avanzamento lavori (SAL) | Interim payment certificate / progress report | Certificate authorizing periodic payment for work completed. |
| Certificato di pagamento | Payment certificate | Certificate authorizing payment at milestones. |
| Collaudo | Final acceptance / commissioning | Formal acceptance of completed works/services. |
| Collaudo in corso d'opera | Progressive testing | Testing during execution, not after completion. |
| Certificato di collaudo | Acceptance certificate | Document confirming acceptance of works. |
| Verbale di consegna | Handover record | Document transferring works from contractor to authority. |
| Variante in corso d'opera | Contract variation / change order | Authorized modification to scope or terms. |
| Riserva | Reservation / claim | Formal notice by contractor of dispute or claim. |
| Iscrizione di riserve | Registration of claims | Formal recording of contractor's claims. |
| Penali | Liquidated damages | Pre-agreed compensation for breach (e.g. delay). Use "liquidated damages" in English: pure "penalty clauses" risk unenforceability under English common law (rule against penalties). |
| Risoluzione del contratto | Termination of the contract | Ending contract before completion, usually for breach. |
| Recesso | Withdrawal | Early termination by agreement. |
| Revisione prezzi | Price revision / price adjustment | Adjustment for inflation or changed circumstances. |

## Italian State Aid Terms

| Italian term | English equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aiuto di Stato | State aid | Gratuitous advantage by public body distorting competition. |
| Regime di aiuto | Aid scheme | Pre-authorized framework for granting state aid. |
| Aiuto individuale | Individual aid | One-off aid to a specific undertaking. |
| Notifica | Notification | Submission to European Commission for clearance. |
| Esenzione per categoria | Block exemption | Category of aid automatically compatible with EU law. |
| Regolamento di esenzione / GBER | General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) | EU regulation exempting certain aid from notification. |
| De minimis | De minimis | Aid below threshold (EUR 200,000/3 years) automatically exempted. |
| Servizio di interesse economico generale (SIEG) | Service of general economic interest (SGEI) | Public service obligation (postal, transport, utilities, etc.). |
| Compensazione di servizio pubblico | Public service compensation | Payment for losses from providing SGEI. |
| Criterio dell'investitore privato | Private investor test / market economy operator test | Test whether state support is market-compliant. |

## Italian Legislation and Directives

| Italian reference | English equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|
| D.Lgs. 36/2023 | Legislative Decree No. 36/2023 | Current Italian Public Contracts Code (effective 2023). Implements Directives 2014/24, 2014/25, 2014/23. |
| Direttiva 2014/24/UE | Directive 2014/24/EU (Public Sector Directive) | EU procurement directive for public authorities. |
| Direttiva 2014/25/UE | Directive 2014/25/EU (Utilities Directive) | EU procurement directive for utilities. |
| Direttiva 2014/23/UE | Directive 2014/23/EU (Concessions Directive) | EU procurement directive for concessions. |
| Gazzetta Ufficiale dell'UE | Official Journal of the EU (OJEU) | EU publication venue for procurement notices. |
| Soglia comunitaria | EU threshold | Monetary value triggering EU procurement rules. |
| Sotto soglia | Below-threshold | Procurement below EU threshold. |
| Sopra soglia | Above-threshold | Procurement above EU threshold. |
| TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) | TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) | Online database of EU procurement notices. |
| Legge 190/2012 | Anti-Corruption Law 190/2012 | Italian law establishing ANAC and corruption prevention rules. |

## Notes

- **ANAC guidance**: Italy's ANAC publishes guidelines and interpretations on procurement rules. These may be stricter than EU minimums.

- **SOA system**: The Italian SOA certification is mandatory for most public works contracts in Italy but is Italian-specific. Always explain on first use when translating Italian documents.

- **RUP designation**: Italian law requires a single project manager (RUP) for each procurement. This role has no direct common-law equivalent; describe the specific responsibilities rather than translating the acronym.

- **Decreto-legge vs. Decreto legislativo**: Italian emergency decrees ("decreto-legge") are temporary and must be converted to law; legislative decrees ("decreto legislativo") implement directives. Always specify which applies.

- **In-house provision**: The "Teckal exemption" (derived from CJEU case law, not Italian law) allows public bodies to contract with other public bodies without procurement. Often confused with "affidamento in house" concepts under Italian law.

- **Ricorso / Appeals**: Italian administrative law uses "ricorso" (appeal/review) with specialized courts (TAR = Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale). Translate as "procurement challenge" or "review proceedings" in English contracts.

## Additional Lawlinguists-validated Italian Public-Procurement Mappings

| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| ANAC (Autorità Nazionale Anticorruzione) | Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority |
| BDNCP (Banca Dati Nazionale dei Contratti Pubblici) | Italian National Database of Public Contracts |
| Piattaforma di approvvigionamento digitale | digital procurement platform (mandatory for all procedures from 2024) |
| equivalenza tecnica | technical equivalence (Art. 68 Directive 2014/24/EU) |
| rotazione degli appalti | rotation principle (mandatory rotation of operators in below-threshold procurement) |
| affidamento diretto | direct award (below-threshold) |
| affidamento in economia | low-value direct procurement |
| commissione giudicatrice | tender evaluation committee |
| RUP (Responsabile Unico del Progetto) | single project manager (designated official responsible for the entire procurement lifecycle; note D.Lgs. 36/2023 renamed the role "Responsabile Unico del Progetto" from the earlier "Responsabile Unico del Procedimento") |
| Direttore dei Lavori (DL) | Works Director (site supervisor for public works contracts) |
| Direttore dell'esecuzione del contratto (DEC) | Contract Execution Director (for supply/service contracts) |
| Coordinatore per la Sicurezza (CSP/CSE) | Safety Coordinator (design phase / execution phase) |
| PSC (Piano di Sicurezza e Coordinamento) | Safety and Coordination Plan |
| POS (Piano Operativo di Sicurezza) | Operational Safety Plan |
| DUVRI (Documento Unico di Valutazione dei Rischi da Interferenze) | Single Document for Interference Risk Assessment |
| quadro economico | economic framework / budget breakdown |
| prezzario regionale | regional price list (reference rates for public works) |
| offerta economicamente più vantaggiosa (OEPV) | most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) |
| offerta al massimo ribasso | lowest-price offer |
| soglia di anomalia | anomaly threshold |
| accordo quadro | framework agreement |
| contratti basati | call-off contracts (under framework agreement) |
| procedura competitiva con negoziazione | competitive procedure with negotiation |
| partenariato pubblico privato (PPP) | public-private partnership (PPP) |
| concessionario | concessionaire |
| rischio operativo | operating risk (Art. 5(1) Concessions Directive 2014/23/EU — essential to concession qualification) |
| revoca della concessione | revocation of the concession |
| rescissione contrattuale | unilateral termination |
| decadenza | forfeiture of the concession |
| subappalto | subcontracting (Art. 119 D.Lgs. 36/2023 — thresholds and liability rules) |
| subappalto a cascata | cascade subcontracting (subcontracting by subcontractors) |
| capitolato speciale | special specifications |
| capitolato tecnico | technical specifications |
| oneri per la sicurezza | safety charges (non-subject-to-discount component of public works price) |
| costi della manodopera | labour costs (non-subject-to-discount in public works) |
| certificato di regolare esecuzione (CRE) | certificate of regular execution (for below-threshold works and most services/supplies) |
| ritenuta a garanzia | retention (withheld from each payment as security) |
| polizza fideiussoria | surety bond |
| TAR (Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale) | Regional Administrative Tribunal (first-instance jurisdiction for procurement disputes) |
| Consiglio di Stato | Council of State (appellate and supreme administrative jurisdiction) |
| rito appalti | special fast-track procedure for procurement disputes (Arts. 119-120 Codice del Processo Amministrativo) |
