Registration in ROLECE and RELIC
Scope for all of Spain
Official Register of Bidders and Companies
Classified in the Public Sector (ROLECE).
The Official Registry of Bidders and Classified Companies of the Public Sector is created in compliance with the provisions of articles 337 to 344 of Law 9/2017, on Public Sector Contracts.
Entrepreneurs can register in it the data of personality and capacity to act, authorizations and qualifications, solvency and business classification, to which articlearticle 337 of Law 9/2017 refers, and their certificates accredit to all the contracting bodies of the public sector, in accordance with what is reflected therein and unless proven otherwise, the conditions of suitability of the businessman in terms of his personality and capacity to act, representation, professional or business qualification, economic and financial solvency, and classification, as well as the concurrence or non-concurrence of the prohibitions on contracting that must be stated therein.
The Registry is electronic, and both registration applications and obtaining certificates are processed electronically.
ROLECE Registration
From here you can access the ROLECE registration process. To access, you must identify yourself
with your electronic ID or with your CERES digital certificate (FNMT-RCM).
Scope in Catalonia
Register of bidding and classified companies of Catalonia (RELIC)
The Register of Bidding and Classified Companies of Catalonia (RELIC) is an electronic administrative register, managed by the Advisory Board for Public Procurement, which contains data and documents regarding the legal status, capacity, representation, and solvency of companies wishing to enter into contracts with Catalan public authorities. Registration in the RELIC is open to any domestic or foreign individual or legal entity that can provide proof of their legal status and capacity to act, and who is not subject to any prohibition from entering into contracts.
Registration in the register is voluntary and free of charge. However, as of September 9, 2018, a requirement has come into effect for bidding companies to be registered in official registers of bidders (in Catalonia, the RELIC) in order to participate in simplified open procurement procedures; this requirement is established under Article 159.4.a) of Law 9/2017, of November 8, on Public Sector Contracts.
This procedure can only be completed online.
RELIC Registration
From here you can access the RELIC registration process. To access, you must identify
yourself with your electronic ID or digital certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question 1: What is ROLECE and what is it for?
Answer: ROLECE (Registro Oficial de Licitadores y Empresas Clasificadas del Sector Público) is Spain’s official electronic register of bidders, operating under articles 337-344 of Law 9/2017 of Spain’s Public Sector Contracts. It lets a company certify its legal personality, representation, authorisations and solvency electronically, so it doesn’t have to resubmit the same supporting documents for every tender.
Question 2: What is the difference between ROLECE and RELIC?
Answer: The main difference is scope. ROLECE is the State register and is valid before any public authority in Spain, including those in Catalonia. RELIC is the register of the Generalitat de Catalunya and is only valid before Catalan public authorities. That is why at inLicitando we recommend ROLECE: a single registration lets you bid anywhere in Spain.
Question 3: Does a foreign company based in the EU need to register in ROLECE to bid on Spanish public tenders?
Answer: Registration isn’t strictly mandatory for every procedure — it’s only a legal requirement for certain simplified open procedures — but we recommend it to every EU-based company regardless, because it proves legal capacity, incorporation and solvency in one go and makes every future bid significantly faster to prepare.
Question 4: Is RELIC only required for companies bidding in Catalonia?
Answer: Yes — RELIC applies specifically to tenders issued by the Generalitat de Catalunya and Catalan public bodies. A company bidding elsewhere in Spain does not need to register in RELIC, only in ROLECE.
Question 5: How long does it take to complete the ROLECE registration?
Answer: It depends on where your company is based. For companies and self-employed professionals already established in Spain, the process is handled automatically and typically takes just 2 to 3 business days — sometimes even less, depending on the autonomous region. For foreign companies, including those based elsewhere in the EU, the application is reviewed manually rather than processed automatically, and the minimum timeframe is around 3 months. Because of this, we strongly recommend starting the registration process well ahead of any tender deadline you’re targeting.
Need help?
We can help you in the registration process in ROLECE and RELIC.
We accompany you in the registration process.
Do not hesitate, contact us.
