Glossary.
45 terms from public tenders in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in plain language, each with its legal basis and sources.
This glossary is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The applicable statutory text prevails. Legal status: 7 October 2026.
Each entry shows the German term and its Austrian and Swiss variants. The full definitions and practical tips are in German. Open the German glossary
Basics
9 terms- Contracting authorityA state, regional or local authority or a body governed by public law that must follow public procurement rules when buying goods, services or works.
- Contracting entity (utilities)A public or private entity active in water, energy, transport or postal services that follows the utilities procurement rules for those activities.
- LotA separately awardable part of a contract; splitting into lots is meant to open procurement to SMEs.
- Framework agreementAn agreement that sets the terms for call-off contracts awarded during a fixed period, usually up to four years in the EU.
- Contract noticeThe public announcement that a contracting authority intends to award a contract, including key data, deadlines and criteria.
- Prior information notice (PIN)An advance notice of planned procurements that can shorten later deadlines.
- Contract award noticeThe published result of a procurement, naming the winner and usually the contract value.
- eFormsThe EU's standard structured data forms for publishing procurement notices, mandatory since 25 October 2023.
- CPV codeThe EU's Common Procurement Vocabulary, a standard numeric classification of what is being bought.
Procedures
6 terms- Open procedureAny interested company may submit a tender in response to a public notice; no negotiation.
- Restricted procedureA two-stage procedure in which only shortlisted candidates are invited to tender.
- Competitive procedure with negotiation / negotiated procedureThe authority negotiates initial tenders with selected companies; allowed only in specific cases.
- Competitive dialogueThe authority holds a dialogue with selected candidates to develop solutions for complex needs before final tenders.
- Innovation partnershipA procedure to develop and then purchase an innovative product or service not yet available on the market.
- Direct awardA contract awarded without a formal tender procedure, allowed only below national value limits.
Deadlines and thresholds
6 terms- Above / below EU thresholdsContracts at or above the EU thresholds follow the EU directives; below them, national rules apply.
- EU thresholdsThe contract values above which EU-wide tendering is mandatory, revised every two years by the European Commission.
- Estimated contract valueThe expected total payment excluding VAT, including options and renewals, used to determine the applicable rules.
- Time limit for receipt of tendersThe deadline by which tenders must be received; late tenders are excluded.
- Tender validity periodThe period during which a tender is binding and can be accepted by the authority.
- Standstill periodThe waiting time between notifying the award decision and signing the contract, giving bidders time to seek review.
Selection and award
8 terms- Selection criteriaRequirements on suitability, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability that a company must meet.
- European Single Procurement Document (ESPD)A standard EU self-declaration on suitability and absence of exclusion grounds, replacing certificates at the first stage.
- Reliance on the capacities of other entitiesA bidder relies on another company's resources or experience to meet selection criteria.
- Consortium / joint bidding groupSeveral companies submit one joint tender and are jointly liable for performance.
- SubcontractorA company that performs part of the contract on behalf of the main contractor.
- Award criteriaThe published, weighted criteria used to evaluate and rank tenders.
- Most economically advantageous tender (MEAT)The tender with the best price-quality ratio, not necessarily the lowest price.
- Award (of contract)The acceptance of a tender, preceded by notice to unsuccessful bidders.
Tenders and documents
6 terms- Procurement documents / tender documentsAll documents describing the contract, the procedure, the conditions and the evaluation.
- Technical specifications / statement of workThe description of the required goods, services or works; a bill of quantities lists the items to be priced.
- Clarification questionsBidders' questions about the tender documents, answered to all bidders equally.
- Request for missing or incomplete documentsThe authority asks a bidder to supply, complete or clarify documents within a set deadline.
- Variant (alternative tender)A tender proposing a different solution from the one specified, allowed only within the limits the authority sets.
- Procurement file / procurement reportThe authority's documentation of the whole procedure and its reasons, used in any review.
Remedies
4 terms- Complaint to the contracting authority (prior notice of infringement)In Germany, a formal objection that must precede a review application above the EU thresholds, subject to short deadlines.
- Review procedure before the public procurement tribunal (Vergabekammer)Germany's first-instance review body for contracts above the EU thresholds.
- Federal / Regional Administrative Court (Austria)The courts that review procurement decisions in Austria, at federal or state level.
- Appeal (Switzerland)A challenge against a contracting authority's decision before the Federal Administrative Court or a cantonal administrative court, within 20 days.
Country specifics
6 terms- German procurement law frameworkPart 4 of the Act against Restraints of Competition (GWB) and its ordinances above the thresholds; budget law and national rules below.
- Austrian Federal Procurement Act 2018The single act governing public procurement in Austria above and below the EU thresholds.
- Direct award with prior publication (Austria)A simplified below-threshold procedure with a public notice followed by an informal award.
- Swiss Federal Act on Public Procurement (PPA) and Intercantonal Agreement (IVöB)The revised Swiss procurement framework for federal and cantonal authorities.
- Scope of international agreements (Switzerland)Procurements covered by the WTO GPA and the Swiss-EU agreement, subject to stricter rules.
- Invitation procedure (Switzerland)A below-treaty procedure where the authority invites selected suppliers, ideally at least three, without public notice.
Thresholds 2026 and 2027
From these estimated contract values the rules for EU-wide procurement apply, and in Switzerland the respective procedures. All amounts exclude VAT.
EU thresholds
Valid from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027, amounts in euros. The values for 2024 and 2025 for comparison.
| Contracting authority and contract type | 2026 and 2027 | 2024 and 2025 | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central government authorities, supplies and services (Germany since 1 July 2026: Federal Chancellery and federal ministries only; Austria: contracting authorities under Annex III BVergG 2018) | 140,000 | 143,000 | Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2152, Art. 4 lit. b RL 2014/24/EU; § 106 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 GWB; § 12 Abs. 1 Z 1 BVergG 2018 |
| Sub-central contracting authorities, supplies and services | 216,000 | 221,000 | Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2152, Art. 4 lit. c RL 2014/24/EU |
| Works contracts (public authorities) | 5,404,000 | 5,538,000 | Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2152, Art. 4 lit. a RL 2014/24/EU |
| Social and other specific services | 750,000 | 750,000 | Art. 4 lit. d RL 2014/24/EU (fester Wert) |
| Utilities, supplies and services | 432,000 | 443,000 | Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2150, Art. 15 lit. a RL 2014/25/EU |
| Utilities, works | 5,404,000 | 5,538,000 | Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2150, Art. 15 lit. b RL 2014/25/EU |
| Utilities, social and other specific services | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | Art. 15 lit. c RL 2014/25/EU (fester Wert) |
| Concessions (works and services) | 5,404,000 | 5,538,000 | Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2151, Art. 8 Abs. 1 RL 2014/23/EU |
| Defence and security, supplies and services | 432,000 | 443,000 | Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2487 vom 02.12.2025, Art. 8 lit. a RL 2009/81/EG |
| Defence and security, works | 5,404,000 | 5,538,000 | Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2487, Art. 8 lit. b RL 2009/81/EG |
Central government authorities, supplies and services (Germany since 1 July 2026: Federal Chancellery and federal ministries only; Austria: contracting authorities under Annex III BVergG 2018)
- 2026 and 2027
- 140,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 143,000
Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2152, Art. 4 lit. b RL 2014/24/EU; § 106 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 GWB; § 12 Abs. 1 Z 1 BVergG 2018
Sub-central contracting authorities, supplies and services
- 2026 and 2027
- 216,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 221,000
Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2152, Art. 4 lit. c RL 2014/24/EU
Works contracts (public authorities)
- 2026 and 2027
- 5,404,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 5,538,000
Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2152, Art. 4 lit. a RL 2014/24/EU
Social and other specific services
- 2026 and 2027
- 750,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 750,000
Art. 4 lit. d RL 2014/24/EU (fester Wert)
Utilities, supplies and services
- 2026 and 2027
- 432,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 443,000
Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2150, Art. 15 lit. a RL 2014/25/EU
Utilities, works
- 2026 and 2027
- 5,404,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 5,538,000
Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2150, Art. 15 lit. b RL 2014/25/EU
Utilities, social and other specific services
- 2026 and 2027
- 1,000,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 1,000,000
Art. 15 lit. c RL 2014/25/EU (fester Wert)
Concessions (works and services)
- 2026 and 2027
- 5,404,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 5,538,000
Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2151, Art. 8 Abs. 1 RL 2014/23/EU
Defence and security, supplies and services
- 2026 and 2027
- 432,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 443,000
Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2487 vom 02.12.2025, Art. 8 lit. a RL 2009/81/EG
Defence and security, works
- 2026 and 2027
- 5,404,000
- 2024 and 2025
- 5,538,000
Delegierte VO (EU) 2025/2487, Art. 8 lit. b RL 2009/81/EG
Sources
- Delegierte Verordnung (EU) 2025/2152 (EUR-Lex)(opens in a new tab)
- Delegierte Verordnung (EU) 2025/2150 (EUR-Lex)(opens in a new tab)
- Delegierte Verordnung (EU) 2025/2151 (EUR-Lex)(opens in a new tab)
- Delegierte Verordnung (EU) 2025/2487 (EUR-Lex)(opens in a new tab)
- § 106 GWB(opens in a new tab)
- Kundmachung Schwellenwerte ab 1.1.2026, BGBl. II Nr. 214/2026 (RIS)(opens in a new tab)
As of 7 October 2026
Swiss thresholds
Valid for 2026 and 2027, amounts in CHF.
| Contracting authority and procedure | Works | Supplies | Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main construction | Ancillary construction | |||
| Confederation, scope of international agreements (PPA) | ||||
| Federal administration (Art. 4(1) PPA), GPA | 8,700,000 | 230,000 | 230,000 | |
| Sector companies (Art. 4(2)(a) to (e) PPA), GPA | 8,700,000 | 700,000 | 700,000 | |
| Sector companies (Art. 4(2)(f) to (h) PPA), CH-EU agreement | 8,000,000 | 640,000 | 640,000 | |
| Confederation, outside the scope of international agreements (PPA) | ||||
| Open or selective procedure from, contracting authority under Art. 4(1) PPA | 2,000,000 | 230,000 | 230,000 | |
| Open or selective procedure from, contracting authority under Art. 4(2)(a) to (e) PPA | 2,000,000 | 700,000 | 700,000 | |
| Open or selective procedure from, contracting authority under Art. 4(2)(f) to (h) PPA | 2,000,000 | 640,000 | 640,000 | |
| Invitation procedure from (all contracting authorities) | 300,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | |
| Direct award procedure below (all contracting authorities) | 300,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | |
| Cantons and municipalities (IVöB) | ||||
| Scope of international agreements, GPA: cantons, municipalities, districts | 8,700,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 | |
| Scope of international agreements, GPA: authorities and public companies in the water, energy, transport and telecommunications sectors | 8,700,000 | 700,000 | 700,000 | |
| CH-EU agreement: private companies with special or exclusive rights in the water, energy and transport sectors | 8,700,000 | 700,000 | 700,000 | |
| CH-EU agreement: rail transport, gas and heat supply | 8,000,000 | 640,000 | 640,000 | |
| CH-EU agreement: telecommunications | 8,000,000 | 960,000 | 960,000 | |
| Outside the scope of international agreements: open or selective procedure mandatory from | 500,000 | 250,000 | 250,000 | 250,000 |
| Invitation procedure allowed up to | 500,000 | 250,000 | 250,000 | 250,000 |
| Direct award procedure allowed up to | 300,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
Confederation, scope of international agreements (PPA)
Federal administration (Art. 4(1) PPA), GPA
- Works
- 8,700,000
- Supplies
- 230,000
- Services
- 230,000
Sector companies (Art. 4(2)(a) to (e) PPA), GPA
- Works
- 8,700,000
- Supplies
- 700,000
- Services
- 700,000
Sector companies (Art. 4(2)(f) to (h) PPA), CH-EU agreement
- Works
- 8,000,000
- Supplies
- 640,000
- Services
- 640,000
Confederation, outside the scope of international agreements (PPA)
Open or selective procedure from, contracting authority under Art. 4(1) PPA
- Works
- 2,000,000
- Supplies
- 230,000
- Services
- 230,000
Open or selective procedure from, contracting authority under Art. 4(2)(a) to (e) PPA
- Works
- 2,000,000
- Supplies
- 700,000
- Services
- 700,000
Open or selective procedure from, contracting authority under Art. 4(2)(f) to (h) PPA
- Works
- 2,000,000
- Supplies
- 640,000
- Services
- 640,000
Invitation procedure from (all contracting authorities)
- Works
- 300,000
- Supplies
- 150,000
- Services
- 150,000
Direct award procedure below (all contracting authorities)
- Works
- 300,000
- Supplies
- 150,000
- Services
- 150,000
Cantons and municipalities (IVöB)
Scope of international agreements, GPA: cantons, municipalities, districts
- Works
- 8,700,000
- Supplies
- 350,000
- Services
- 350,000
Scope of international agreements, GPA: authorities and public companies in the water, energy, transport and telecommunications sectors
- Works
- 8,700,000
- Supplies
- 700,000
- Services
- 700,000
CH-EU agreement: private companies with special or exclusive rights in the water, energy and transport sectors
- Works
- 8,700,000
- Supplies
- 700,000
- Services
- 700,000
CH-EU agreement: rail transport, gas and heat supply
- Works
- 8,000,000
- Supplies
- 640,000
- Services
- 640,000
CH-EU agreement: telecommunications
- Works
- 8,000,000
- Supplies
- 960,000
- Services
- 960,000
Outside the scope of international agreements: open or selective procedure mandatory from
- Works, Main construction
- 500,000
- Works, Ancillary construction
- 250,000
- Supplies
- 250,000
- Services
- 250,000
Invitation procedure allowed up to
- Works, Main construction
- 500,000
- Works, Ancillary construction
- 250,000
- Supplies
- 250,000
- Services
- 250,000
Direct award procedure allowed up to
- Works, Main construction
- 300,000
- Works, Ancillary construction
- 150,000
- Supplies
- 150,000
- Services
- 150,000
Sources
- BöB Anhang 4, Schwellenwerte 2026 und 2027 (Fedlex)(opens in a new tab)
- BKB, Newsletter November 2025 (Schwellenwerte 2026 bis 2027 unverändert)(opens in a new tab)
- Kanton Basel-Landschaft, Schwellenwerte IVöB 2026 bis 2027 (19.12.2025)(opens in a new tab)
- IVöB 2019, Vereinbarungstext (BPUK, Interkantonales Organ)(opens in a new tab)
As of 7 October 2026
All terms from A to Z
A
C
- Clarification questions
- Competitive dialogue
- Competitive procedure with negotiation / negotiated procedure
- Complaint to the contracting authority (prior notice of infringement)
- Consortium / joint bidding group
- Contract award notice
- Contract notice
- Contracting authority
- Contracting entity (utilities)
- CPV code
L
P
R
S
T
This glossary is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The applicable statutory text prevails. Legal status: 7 October 2026.
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