Federal Trunk Road Construction Controlling System (CSBF) 2026 – Public Procurement Law

Definition: The Controllingsystem Bundesfernstraßenbau (CSBF) is a federal IT-based management and monitoring system used for the planning, control and cost oversight of construction and maintenance works on federal trunk roads, which captures data on contracts, costs and deadlines relevant to public procurement law.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: FStrG, BHO, VOB/A

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What is the CSBF?

The Federal Trunk Road Construction Controlling System (CSBF) is an IT-supported management system that supports the federal road administration in planning, controlling and monitoring infrastructure projects relating to federal trunk roads. It was developed to handle the complex project management requirements of major infrastructure projects and to create a uniform data basis for all stakeholders. The CSBF is an instrument of public budget and procurement controlling and enables the federal government to monitor the flow of funds, the conclusion of contracts and project progress in real time.

Functions and tasks

The CSBF performs several core controlling functions that are closely linked to public procurement.

Cost controlling

The system captures all cost data relevant to procurement: tender prices, award sums, additional claim volumes and final settlement amounts. By comparing planned costs, contract values and actual costs, the CSBF enables early detection of cost increases and the initiation of corrective measures.

Schedule controlling

For every procurement procedure, target and actual dates are captured: tender publication, tender opening, contract award, start of construction and planned completion. Deviations from the schedule are flagged automatically.

Procurement documentation

The CSBF supports the documentation obligations of the procuring entity under VOB/A and BHO. All procurement-relevant procedures are recorded in the system and are available for audits by the Federal Audit Office.

Significance for public procurement law

The CSBF is not procurement law in the narrower sense, but an instrument of budgetary oversight that supports the procurement-law-compliant execution of federal trunk road projects. It ensures that the documentation of award decisions required under procurement law takes place in standardised form and remains traceable for audit purposes.

For bidders and contractors, the CSBF is relevant in that additional claims, interim payments and final settlements are processed via the system and thus feed directly into the contracting authority's cost control.

FAQ

Is the CSBF publicly accessible? No, the CSBF is an internal federal administrative system. Bidders and contractors have no direct access to the system.

Which authorities use the CSBF? The CSBF is used by the Federal Trunk Road Office (FBA) and the branches of the federal motorway company Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, as well as the state authorities cooperating with them.

What influence does the CSBF have on additional claim negotiations? Because all costs are captured in the CSBF, the system has an indirect influence on the assessment of the economic justification of additional claims. Contractors should therefore ensure that their additional claim calculations are transparent and documented.

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Last updated: January 2026 All information without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.