Since 1 April 2026, public institutions have been able to contract directly for purchases below €60,000, instead of the previous €40,000 threshold, without prior advertising or competitive tendering. It is a discreet regulatory change, but one with very practical consequences.
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Some projects move slowly. Not because management is hesitant, nor because the budget is lacking, but because, above a certain amount, commissioning an external service involves a process that few teams can absorb without dedicating several weeks to it: drafting specifications, publishing a call for tenders, reviewing responses, waiting. For digital mediation projects, training programmes, or the deployment of a first conversational agent, this level of formality has often been enough to push a decision back by a quarter, or even to the next budget year.
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A decree dated 29 December 2025 changes this, with effect from 1 April 2026.

What the text says

For supply and service contracts, the threshold below which public buyers are exempt from advertising and competitive tendering requirements has been raised to €60,000 excluding VAT, under Decree No. 2025-1386 of 29 December 2025, published in the French Official Journal.
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Since 1 April 2026, a public buyer can contract directly with the provider of their choice, without mandatory publication in the BOAMP, without formal specifications, and without a tender procedure.
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The choice of partner lies entirely with the institution.

What this changes in practice

For public buyers in the cultural and heritage sectors, this threshold covers a range of projects that closely matches what many institutions are currently considering: AI training for teams, the deployment of a first conversational agent for an exhibition journey, or an experiment involving a digital visitor welcome tool.
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These projects have real, measurable value. Their initial budget size no longer requires a disproportionate administrative process.
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In practical terms, this shortens the time between a decision in principle and the actual start of the project. Senior management gives its approval, the finance department frames the commitment, and the collaboration can begin without waiting for a notice to be published or for applications to be reviewed.

Ask Mona’s perspective

At Ask Mona, a significant share of our first collaborations with cultural institutions fall within this budget range.
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Since 2017, we have worked with national museums, public institutions, and local authorities. The question of the regulatory framework regularly comes up in discussions, and it has sometimes slowed down projects that all parties were keen to move forward with.
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This change in threshold simplifies one stage of the process and makes it easier to turn decisions into action more quickly.

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Taking the next step

If your institution is considering a project, now is the right time to move forward. Our teams are available to discuss your needs, share concrete examples from collaborations with institutions similar to yours, and help you define a project within the timeframe that works for you.

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