QES-readiness checker
QES-readiness checker
Answer four quick questions and we'll email you a localized signature-readiness report: whether your bid will, as a rule, need a qualified e-signature (QES), and the format pitfalls to avoid. General guidance only — the bid-specific verdict comes from the per-notice gate inside Steinlog.
What this QES-readiness check does
Public construction tenders differ on whether a bid must carry a qualified electronic signature (QES), an advanced one (AdES), or only Textform. This free check asks four questions about your tender — country, threshold, what the notice demands, and what you can sign with today — and shows your signature posture as a general rule, plus the format pitfalls that most often cause avoidable rejections. It is general guidance; the binding, bid-specific verdict comes from the per-notice gate inside Steinlog, which reads the actual procurement documents.
- Four-question signature-posture check for PL and DE
- Tells you QES vs AdES vs Textform, as a general rule
- Flags the common, avoidable format and certificate pitfalls
- Localized readiness report emailed to you
- Free, no account — general guidance, not advice
How the readiness check works
- 1Answer four quick questions: country, whether the contract is above the EU threshold, what the notice demands, and what signature you can produce today.
- 2See your posture on screen — QES, AdES or Textform — with the curability note and the top risk to watch.
- 3Enter your email for the full localized readiness report. Always confirm against the actual notice.
Qualified e-signatures in tenders — FAQ
What is a qualified electronic signature (QES)?
A QES is the highest eIDAS tier of electronic signature, created with a qualified certificate and a qualified signature-creation device. In EU public procurement it carries the legal weight of a handwritten signature, which is why some tenders require it for a bid to be valid.
Does every tender need a QES?
No. As a general rule, Poland requires a QES for bids above the EU threshold, while Germany defaults to Textform and only requires a QES when the notice explicitly demands it. The actual requirement always depends on the specific notice — this tool gives the general posture, not a verdict on your tender.
What is the difference between QES, AdES and Textform?
Textform is plain electronic text with no signature requirement; AdES (advanced) is a signature uniquely linked to and controlled by the signatory; QES (qualified) adds a qualified certificate and device and is the strictest tier. A tender names which one it accepts, and signing at a lower tier than required is a common cause of rejection.
Why is a missing QES in Poland 'uncurable'?
Where a QES is mandatory above the EU threshold in Poland, a bid that is unsigned or invalidly signed at the deadline cannot be repaired afterwards — the defect is not curable. That is why checking your signature posture before you submit matters, rather than discovering it at submission.
Is this check legal advice?
No. It is general guidance on the typical signature posture and common pitfalls. The bid-specific verdict — for the exact notice, lot and deadline — comes only from the per-notice gate inside Steinlog, which reads the actual procurement documents. Always confirm against the notice.
Is it free?
Yes. The check and the emailed readiness report are free with no account. You only enter an email so we can send you the full localized report.