NERA is a leading advisor to governments, regulatory agencies, utilities, and private-sector companies on the design and implementation of auctions. We apply other tools, such as requests for proposals (RFPs) and trading platforms, to set rules for the interaction of buyers and sellers. And we are experts on auction strategy and negotiation tactics.

Our advice is grounded in a thorough understanding of the academic literature on game theory and mechanism design and practical experience with all aspects of auction design, auction implementation, and bidding. Our consultants have experience with all types of auction formats, including sealed bids, simultaneous multiple-round auctions (SMRAs), ascending and descending clock auctions, and combinatorial auctions (e.g., CCA and CMRA). We also offer bespoke software solutions for running auctions, developing optimal auction strategy, and analyzing bidding data.

Our auction and market design advisory work spans many industries. We are well known for our work in the energy and radio spectrum sectors, where NERA has been designing and implementing auctions since the 1990s. We also use auctions and RFPs to inject competition into procurement processes, helping buyers secure better deals from their suppliers. Our designs for auctions, RFPs, and trading mechanisms have been used to transform markets in diverse areas such as airport slots, financial instruments, mining licenses, universal service broadband subsidies, and water extraction rights.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to designing and implementing competitive bid processes. NERA works closely with every client to achieve their unique business objectives or regulatory requirements. Similarly, we work with prospective bidders to lobby for advantageous rule changes, utilizing our knowledge of theory, global best practice, and industry benchmarks.