В приглашении указываются, к примеру, технические, экономические либо функциональные характеристики объекта (услуг), которые должны быть достигнуты. От участника тендера ждут, таким образом, какого-либо рационализаторского предложения, новшества и т.д.

Functional invitation to tender: Instead of the conventional tendering method with precisely
defined specifications, it is possible to also specify only the objective of procurement on the basis
of performance or functional criteria (Art. 16a (2) Public Procurement Ordinance of 11 December
1995 [PPO; SR 172.056.11]). Such a functional approach to the invitation to tender gives the
bidder greater flexibility and more of an incentive to come up with innovative solutions. In the
end, the procuring entity may thus obtain more potential solutions, specifically with respect to
new and underdeveloped markets (e.g. in environmental technologies). One drawback of
functional tendering, however, is that the tenders may differ quite substantially from each other,
making it more difficult to compare them.