Glossary · Page 5 of 7

Procurement Glossary

All key terms around public procurement and tendering — explained clearly.

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Objection Period in Public Procurement

Objection period in public procurement: time limit for review application and duty to notify. Preclusion deadlines. AT: § 160 BVergG 2018; DE: § 160(3) GWB.

Obligation to Object & Preclusion in Procurement Law 2026

Obligation to object and preclusion in procurement law: whoever does not object to procurement violations in time loses the right to review. Deadlines and exceptions.

Obligation to Object in Procurement Law 2026 – Deadlines and Preclusion

The obligation to object requires bidders to object to identified procurement violations in time. Violations of this duty lead to preclusion in review proceedings.

Offsetting in Procurement Law 2026

Offsetting in procurement law: the compensation of emissions or disadvantages by certified measures, also offsetting in the climate context of public procurement.

OJS eSender Certification in Public Procurement Law

The OJS eSender certification authorises software providers to transmit procurement notices electronically to the EU Official Journal TED.

On-Site Construction Supervision in Procurement Law 2026

On-site construction supervision: monitoring of construction execution on site – tasks, procurement and distinction from site management in procurement law.

Open House Procedure in Public Procurement Law 2026

Open house procedure: procurement model in the health and social sector that does not fall under procurement law – conditions and delimitation.

Open Procedure Procurement Law 2026

Open procedure in procurement law: standard procedure in the above-threshold area in which bids can be submitted without limit. Art. 27 Directive 2014/24/EU.

Open Public Tender in Public Procurement Law

The open public tender is an award procedure with an unrestricted pool of bidders for national and EU-wide contract awards.

Opening of Bids in Public Procurement Law 2026

Opening of bids: formal procedural step of the bid opening – process, minutes obligation and rights of bidders in Austria and Germany.

Option in Public Procurement Law

An option is a reserved additional service or contract extension that must be included in the contract value estimate and transparently disclosed in the notice.

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Parallel Tender in Public Procurement Law 2026

Parallel tender: the simultaneous tendering of several alternative solutions for the same procurement task – admissibility and requirements.

Partial Cancellation of a Tender 2026 – Procurement Law Explained

Partial cancellation of a tender: the contracting authority cancels only part of the procurement procedure. Conditions, legal consequences and bidder protection.

Partial Evaluation in Procurement Law 2026 – Bid Evaluation by Criteria

Partial evaluation: evaluation of individual award criteria in the context of overall evaluation. Scoring systems, weighting and transparency principle in procurement law 2026.

Partial Lot in Procurement Law 2026 – Definition and Significance

Partial lot: A single lot within a public contract divided into lots. Significance for bidders and contracting authorities in the procurement procedure explained.

Participation Deadline in Procurement Law

The participation deadline is the statutory minimum period for submitting requests to participate in the restricted procedure and the negotiated procedure.

Party Status in Public Procurement Law 2026

Party status in procurement review proceedings: who is entitled to participate as a party in a review procedure and assert rights?

Performance Deadlines in Public Procurement Law 2026

Performance deadlines: contractually agreed periods for the delivery of publicly tendered services. Significance in procurement and construction law.

Place of Performance in Public Procurement Law 2026

Place of performance in public procurement: definition, relevance for jurisdiction, NUTS codes, tenderer selection and contract law in public procurement in Germany and Austria.

Planning Competition Procurement Law 2026

Planning competition in procurement law: competitive procedure for obtaining plans in architecture, urban planning and engineering. Legal basis and process.

Plausibility Checks in Public Procurement Law 2026

Plausibility checks in tender procedures: examining tenders for completeness, consistency and arithmetical accuracy.

Pre-Qualification Competition Documents 2026 – Procurement Law in Brief

Pre-qualification competition documents: documents for the first stage of two-stage procurement procedures. Content, provision and legal requirements 2026.

Pre-Qualification Competition in Procurement Law

Pre-qualification competition: first stage of a two-stage procurement procedure with suitability check and applicant selection. Art. 29 Directive 2014/24/EU, § 46 BVergG 2018, § 17 VgV.

Preclusion in Public Procurement Law 2026

Preclusion in public procurement: loss of the right to challenge procurement breaches when not raised in time – time limits, consequences and exceptions.

Preclusive Deadline in Public Procurement Law 2026

Preclusive deadline in procurement law: non-extendable deadline for complaints and review applications. Missing it leads to loss of rights.

Prequalification for Construction Works (PQ-VOB) 2026

PQ-VOB: the official prequalification register for construction companies – certification procedure, requirements, validity period and benefits in public tendering.

Prequalification for Contracts under VOB 2026

Prequalification under VOB: advance suitability assessment of construction companies for public contracts – PQ-VOB system, advantages and procedure.

Prequalification for Contracts under VOL and UVgO 2026

Prequalification under VOL and UVgO: advance suitability assessment of suppliers and service providers – procedure, benefits and legal basis.

Prequalification for Supplies and Services (PQ-VOL) 2026

PQ-VOL: prequalification system for supply and service contracts of public bodies – function, requirements and differences from the PQ-VOB system.

Prequalification in Public Procurement Law

Prequalification in public procurement law: advance suitability assessment of companies via official registers. Art. 64 Directive 2014/24/EU, AVPQ, PQ-VOB, PQ-VOL.

Prequalification in Public Procurement Law 2026

Prequalification allows companies to evidence their suitability once and be relieved of repeating the suitability check in future tender procedures.

Price Discount in Public Procurement Law 2026

Price discount in public procurement: admissibility and effect of rebates and discounts on tenders to contracting authorities – rules and pitfalls.

Price Enquiry in Public Procurement Law 2026

Price enquiry in public procurement: informal market exploration by contracting authorities before the award – distinction from a formal tender and legal limits.

Price Fixing in Public Procurement Law 2026

Price fixing in public procurement: anti-competitive agreements between bidders on tender prices and their consequences in the tender procedure.

Price in Public Procurement Law 2026

Price as an award criterion in public procurement: significance, weighting and relationship to quality criteria when evaluating tenders.

Price Information in Public Procurement Law 2026

Price information in the tender procedure: bidders' duty to provide complete and accurate price information and the consequences of faulty or missing entries.

Price Law for Public Contracts 2026

Price law for public contracts: rules on market prices, cost-based prices and price controls in public procurement in Germany and Austria.

Price Verification in Public Procurement Law 2026

Price verification in public procurement: duty and procedure for examining abnormally low tenders, legal basis and consequences for bidders and contracting authorities.

Primary Law in Public Procurement 2026

Primary law in procurement: EU treaties and fundamental freedoms as the highest legal source of procurement law – significance for public contract awards.

Primary Legal Protection in Public Procurement 2026

Primary legal protection in procurement: remedies before contract conclusion to prevent unlawful awards – review proceedings and interim injunction.

Principle of Economy in Procurement Law 2026

The principle of economy requires public contracting authorities to use public funds prudently and efficiently and to achieve the best price-quality ratio.

Principle of Equal Treatment in Procurement Law

The principle of equal treatment requires public contracting authorities to treat all bidders by the same standards and to avoid discrimination of any kind.

Principle of Self-Submission in Procurement Law 2026

Principle of self-submission in procurement law: tenderers must submit required evidence and documents on their own initiative. Definition, duties and deadlines.

Principles of Procurement in Procurement Law 2026

The principles of procurement are the fundamental legal principles of public procurement: competition, transparency, equal treatment and proportionality.

Private Tender in Public Procurement Law 2026

Private tender: distinction from public tender, application of procurement principles and significance for private contracting parties in Germany and Austria.

Privatisation in Public Procurement Law 2026

Privatisation in procurement law: transfer of public tasks to private entities and the procurement-law relevance of the various forms of privatisation.

Prize (Competition Award) in Public Procurement Law 2026

Prize in public procurement: remuneration for competition participants and unsuccessful tenderers in design contests and negotiated procedures – legal basis.

Prize Competition Procedure in Procurement Law 2026

Prize competition procedure (design contest): planning and ideas competition under procurement law for architectural and engineering services. Process, legal basis and jury members.

Procurement Advisory Office in Public Procurement Law 2026

Procurement advisory office: free advisory body for bidders and contracting authorities on procurement matters. Tasks and contact points in Austria and Germany.

Procurement Chamber Decision in Procurement Law 2026

Procurement chamber decision: ruling in the review procedure. Content, effect, legal remedies and deadlines under GWB and BVergG 2018.

Procurement Criminal Law 2026 – Corruption and Criminal Liability in Procurement

Procurement criminal law covers criminal provisions on corruption, collusion and breach of trust in public procurement in Austria and Germany.

Procurement Documents in Procurement Law

Procurement documents are all documents that the contracting authority provides for the procurement procedure, including the specifications, suitability requirements and contract terms.

Procurement Documents in Procurement Law 2026

Procurement documents: the entirety of tender documents including specification, contract conditions and suitability requirements. Contents and obligations.

Procurement Files 2026 – Documentation Duty in Procurement Law

Procurement files: Mandatory documentation by public contracting authorities of all material decisions in the award procedure. Content, form and legal effect.

Procurement Law Reform 2016 – Modernisation of German and European Procurement Law

Procurement law reform 2016: transposition of EU Directives 2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU and 2014/23/EU. Key changes for contracting authorities and bidders at a glance.

Procurement Management 2026 – Organising and Steering Public Procurement

Procurement management: planning, conducting and controlling public procurement procedures. Tasks, methods, digital tools and best practices explained.

Procurement Manuals (VHB) 2026 – Guides for Public Procurement

Procurement manuals (VHB): Official guides for public contracting authorities, with template forms and explanatory notes on the conduct of procurement procedures.

Procurement Office (VSt) in Procurement Law 2026 – Tasks and Duties

The procurement office (VSt) is the organisational unit of the public contracting authority that conducts procurement procedures and awards the contract.

Procurement Ordinance (VgV) in Procurement Law

The Procurement Ordinance (VgV) governs the award of public contracts in the above-threshold area for the classical sector in Germany. Transposition of Directive 2014/24/EU.

Procurement Platform 2026 – Electronic Platforms for Public Tenders

Procurement platform: electronic systems for public tenders. Well-known platforms in Germany and Austria, functions and obligations.

Procurement Portal 2026 – Finding and Submitting Public Tenders Online

Procurement portal: online portals for public tenders. Overview of national and EU portals, registration and use by bidders.

Procurement Procedure under Procurement Law 2026

Overview of procurement procedures: All types of procedure in public procurement – open procedure, negotiated procedure, competitive dialogue and more.

Procurement Process 2026 – Step-by-step Course of Public Procurement Procedures

Procurement process: all phases of a public procurement procedure, from needs identification to contract conclusion. Course of proceedings, time limits and legal requirements.

Procurement Process Procurement Law 2026

Procurement process in the public sector: all steps from needs assessment to contract conclusion in public procurement law. Workflow and phases.

Procurement Record in Procurement Law

The procurement record is the legally required documentation of the entire procurement procedure and a central instrument for transparency, review and audit-office oversight.

Procurement Reference Number 2026 – Unique Identifier for Procurement Procedures

Procurement reference number: a unique identifier for public procurement procedures. Function, structure and meaning for bidders and contracting authorities at a glance.

Procurement Regulation for Freelance Services (VOF) 2026 – History and Successor

VOF – Procurement Regulation for Freelance Services: the historic regulatory framework for architects and engineers, superseded by VgV 2016. Overview and current legal position.

Procurement Regulations / Historic Award Regulations 2026 – Overview of the German Rulebooks

Procurement regulations / historic award regulations: overview of VOB, VOL, VOF, VgV and UVgO as the rulebooks of German public procurement law. History and current legal position.

Procurement Review Authority 2026 – Oversight in Procurement Law

Procurement review authority: State bodies that supervise compliance with procurement law. Procurement chambers, audit offices and supervisory authorities.

Procurement Review Laws 2026 – Legal Protection in Procurement Law

Procurement review laws: Länder laws on the review of procurement activity by public contracting authorities in the sub-threshold area. Overview of state-level rules.

Procurement Review Procedure 2026 – Legal Protection in Public Procurement

Procurement review procedure: legal protection for unsuccessful bidders before the Public Procurement Chamber. Standing, time limits, course of proceedings and remedies explained.

Procurement Service Provider in Procurement Law 2026

Procurement service provider in procurement law: central purchasing bodies and external service providers handling procurement procedures for contracting authorities.

Procurement Software 2026 – Digital Solutions for Public Procurement

Procurement software: Digital tools for contracting authorities and bidders in the procurement process. Features, providers, selection criteria and the duty to use e-procurement.

Procurement Statistics 2026 – Data and Figures on Public Procurement

Procurement statistics: Collection, analysis and importance of statistical data on public procurement in Germany and the EU. Legal basis and use.

Procurement Statistics Ordinance (VergStatVO) 2026 – Reporting Obligations for Contracting Authorities

Procurement Statistics Ordinance (VergStatVO): Reporting obligations of public contracting authorities for procurement statistics. Scope, deadlines and practical implementation.

Procurement Transaction in Procurement Law 2026

Procurement transaction in procurement law: the specific individual case of a public procurement. Delineation from the procurement process and relevance for documentation.

Procurement Transformation Package 2026 – Reform of German Procurement Law

The Procurement Transformation Package modernises German procurement law: simplification, digitalisation and strategic procurement objectives at a glance.

Product Neutrality in Public Procurement Law

Product neutrality prohibits references to specific brands or manufacturers in technical specifications; exceptions only with the addition 'or equivalent'.

Prohibition of Circumvention in Public Procurement Law 2026 – Protection Against Evasion of Procurement Duties

Prohibition of circumvention: contracting authorities must not evade procurement obligations through contract design or contract splitting. Principle and case groups.

Prohibition on Negotiation in Procurement Law

The prohibition on negotiation bars contracting authorities, in the open and restricted procedures, from any negotiation with bidders about the content of bids after bid opening.

Project Management in Public Procurement Law 2026

Project management in procurement: contracting, scope of services and procurement-law classification of project management services under AHO and HOAI.

Provisional Item in Procurement Law 2026

Provisional item in the bill of quantities: definition, function, distinction from base items, and legal treatment in bid evaluation.

Public Call for Participation before Freehand Award 2026

Public call for participation before freehand award: two-stage below-threshold procedure with upstream public applicant selection.

Public Call for Participation before Restricted Tender 2026

Public call for participation before restricted tender: two-stage procedure with public application phase and form-bound submission of bids.

Public Call for Participation in Procurement Law 2026

Public call for participation: pre-procedure for bidder selection in the restricted procedure – process and procurement-law requirements.

Public Contract in Public Procurement Law 2026

Public contract: the contract for pecuniary interest between public contracting authority and undertaking – core concept of procurement law.

Public Contract Notice in Public Procurement Law 2026

Public contract notice: mandatory publication of public contracts in the EU Official Journal (TED) or national media. Contents, deadlines and rules.

Public Contracting Authority Procurement Law 2026

Public contracting authority: who is subject to procurement law? Review scheme, body governed by public law, distinction from sector contracting authority under Art. 2 Dir 2014/24/EU.

Public Contracts in Public Procurement Law 2026

Public contracts: definition, types and procurement-law obligations for procurements by public contracting authorities in Austria and Germany.

Public Procurement Chamber Decisions in Procurement Law 2026

Public procurement chamber decisions: rulings, binding effect, legal remedies and the importance of chamber case law for public procurement law in 2026.

Public Procurement Chamber in Procurement Law

The public procurement chamber is the first-instance review body for procurement-law disputes in the above-threshold area in Germany.

Public Procurement Checklist 2026

Public procurement checklist: structured overview of the key steps and obligations in public procurement procedures for contracting authorities and bidders.

Public Procurement Coordination Directive 2026 – EU Directive 2014/24/EU Explained

Public Procurement Coordination Directive: EU Directive 2014/24/EU on public contracts. Content, transposition and importance for German and Austrian procurement law.

Public Procurement Law 2026

Public procurement law: the body of rules governing public contract awards – EU directives, BVergG 2018 (AT), GWB/VgV/VOB/UVgO (DE), key principles, threshold values.

Public Procurement Senate 2026 – The Higher Regional Court as Appellate Body in Procurement Law

Public Procurement Senate: specialised division of the Higher Regional Court acting as appellate body against decisions of the Public Procurement Chambers. Jurisdiction, procedure and remedies explained.

Public Sector in Public Procurement Law 2026

Public sector: term for state and municipal bodies that are subject to procurement law as public contracting authorities.

Public Tender in Procurement Law 2026

Public tender in procurement law: the formal procedure by which contracting authorities procure supplies, works and services. EU-wide or national.

Public Undertaking in Public Procurement Law 2026

Public undertaking: state-controlled undertakings in procurement law – delimitation, sector relevance and transparency obligations.

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Public Procurement Law 2026

Public-Private Partnership (PPP): procurement-law fundamentals, concession models and procedures for cooperation between the public sector and private business.

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