Official List of Prequalified Economic Operators (AVPQ) 2026

Definition: The Official List of Prequalified Economic Operators (Amtliches Verzeichnis präqualifizierter Unternehmen, AVPQ) is a publicly accessible register maintained by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) organisation, in which supply and service undertakings are registered after examination of their suitability, and which is recognised in procurement procedures as a simplified proof of suitability.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal status: § 52 VgV; Art. 64 Directive 2014/24/EU

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What is the AVPQ?

The AVPQ is the central official prequalification system for suppliers and service providers in Germany and corresponds at national level to what Art. 64 of Directive 2014/24/EU provides for as an "official list of approved economic operators". It was developed by the IHK organisation in cooperation with federal ministries and is operated uniformly nationwide by the IHKs.

The AVPQ relieves undertakings of the recurring submission of suitability evidence: a registered undertaking can rely on its AVPQ registration in procurement procedures and does not have to re-submit the relevant evidence.

What is verified in the AVPQ?

As part of the AVPQ registration, the IHK examines the suitability of the undertaking on the basis of standardised criteria.

Verified evidence typically includes:

• Commercial register entry or comparable proof of existence
• Trade licence / professional qualification
• Proof of business liability insurance
• Tax clearance certificate and social-insurance clearance certificate
• Declaration concerning grounds for exclusion (e.g. no insolvency, no serious professional misconduct)
• Reference evidence (where required)

Registration has a limited validity (generally one year) and must be renewed.

Use in procurement procedures

Contracting authorities must recognise the AVPQ registration as equivalent proof of suitability. § 52 VgV provides that public contracting authorities may not require additional evidence already covered by the AVPQ registration. Bidders can simply reference their AVPQ number in the tender.

Distinction from PQ VOB

The AVPQ (under VgV) is designed for supply and service contracts, the PQ VOB for works contracts. Both systems follow the same basic principle of upfront verification and certification, but were developed by different sponsoring organisations and cover different types of works/services.

FAQ

How can an undertaking be registered in the AVPQ? Registration is via the responsible IHK. The undertaking submits the required documents, pays a fee and receives an AVPQ number after positive assessment.

Does the AVPQ also apply in the EU above-threshold sector? Yes. Pursuant to § 52 VgV and Art. 64 of Directive 2014/24/EU, AVPQ registration is also recognised for EU-wide procurements.

What does AVPQ registration cost? Fees vary by IHK and size of undertaking. The responsible IHK provides information.

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