Lot-Based Tender in Public Procurement 2026

Lot-based tender in public procurement: tendering of a contract in several trade or partial lots, obligation to divide into lots and exceptions.

Definition: In a lot-based tender, a public contract is divided into several substantively or regionally delimited sub-contracts (lots) and published as such, enabling bidders to submit offers for individual or several lots; it is the practical expression of the obligation to divide into lots under public procurement law.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: Art. 46 Directive 2014/24/EU, § 97 (4) GWB, § 58 BVergG 2018

What is a lot-based tender?

The lot-based tender is the formal implementation of the statutory obligation to divide into lots: a contract that can reasonably be divided substantively or regionally is split into delimited lots and published as a single tender with several sub-lots. Bidders can then apply for individual lots, selected lots or – where the contracting authority permits – all lots. The lot-based tender combines the advantages of a single procurement procedure (low administrative effort) with the competitive advantages of division into lots (promotion of SMEs).

Structure of a lot-based tender

A lot-based tender comprises a joint contract notice and lot-specific procurement documents.

Typical structure:

Contract notice: A single notice for all lots, with a short description and estimated value for each lot
Common parts of the procurement documents: General terms, suitability requirements, contractual provisions
Lot-specific parts: Specifications, bill of quantities and technical requirements per lot
Bid forms: Separate bid forms per lot

Particularities in tendering several lots

Contracting authorities must clearly state in the contract notice whether and under what conditions bidders may submit bids for several lots and whether restrictions apply to multiple awards.

The following must be set out and announced in advance:

Maximum number of lots that a bidder can be awarded
Whether overall bids (combination bids) are permissible
Order of evaluation of lots in the case of combination bids
Whether lot-specific or uniform suitability requirements apply

Suitability examination in lot-based tenders

In lot-based tenders, contracting authorities can set either uniform or lot-specific suitability criteria.

Options:

Uniform suitability criteria: Bidders must meet the suitability requirements for all lots they apply for
Lot-specific suitability criteria: Different minimum requirements depending on the subject matter of the lot (e.g. different specialist knowledge for each trade)

Threshold calculation

For the threshold calculation, the total contract value of all lots is always decisive, even where individual lots fall below the threshold.

Exception (de minimis lots rule):

In Germany, individual lots with a value below EUR 80,000 (supplies and services) or below EUR 1,000,000 (works) may be awarded under national rules, provided their cumulative share does not exceed 20% of the total contract value (§ 3 (9) VgV)

FAQ

Can a bidder be disqualified from one lot without losing all other lots? Yes. The examination of suitability and bids is conducted lot by lot. Exclusion from lot 1 does not affect the bidder's participation in lot 2, provided no cross-cutting ground for exclusion applies.

Is a lot-based tender more time-consuming than an overall tender? In preparation yes (several specifications, evaluations, awards). Overall, however, it promotes more competition and allows SMEs to participate, which improves bid quality and economic efficiency.

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