Plausibility Checks in Public Procurement Law 2026

Definition: Plausibility checks are examination measures within the tender evaluation by which the contracting authority assesses the internal consistency, freedom from contradictions and traceability of a tender, without requiring a full disclosure of the cost calculation.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: § 60 VgV, § 16d VOB/A, § 58 UVgO, BVergG 2018

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What are plausibility checks?

Plausibility checks are a central instrument of formal and substantive tender examination and serve to identify abnormally low tenders as well as obvious calculation errors. The contracting authority assesses whether the prices and conditions offered are compatible with the services tendered, whether all items have been completed, and whether the entries are internally consistent. The objective is to sort out tenders that are based on flawed assumptions or that do not give any prospect of proper performance.

Distinction from price verification

Plausibility checks must be distinguished from the more in-depth price verification: while a plausibility check is a first consistency review, a detailed price verification requires a full disclosure of the bidder's calculation. For a plausibility check it is sufficient for the contracting authority to determine, on the basis of objective indicators, whether a tender appears conspicuous. Only if concrete indications of an abnormally low tender arise is the contracting authority obliged to initiate an in-depth examination pursuant to § 60 VgV.

Typical items checked

As part of the plausibility check the contracting authority examines in particular the following aspects:

• Completeness of all required entries and price items
• Arithmetical accuracy (totals, unit prices, overall prices)
• Consistency between the bill of quantities and the tendered price
• Conspicuous deviations from the market price or from other tenders
• Contradictions between individual parts of the tender
• Plausibility of unit prices in relation to the overall price

Legal consequences of lack of plausibility

If the plausibility check reveals serious contradictions or omissions, the tender may be excluded from further participation in the procedure. Simple arithmetical errors, however, do not automatically justify exclusion; the contracting authority must first establish whether the error is correctable. In the case of abnormally low tenders, a clarification procedure is mandatory before exclusion may be pronounced.

FAQ

Is the contracting authority obliged to carry out a plausibility check? Yes. The examination of tenders, including a consistency review, is required by public procurement law. A contracting authority that leaves obviously flawed tenders unchecked breaches the principle of proper procurement.

What happens if a tender is not plausible? The contracting authority must first request clarification from the tenderer. Only if a satisfactory explanation is not forthcoming can the tender be excluded.

Do plausibility checks differ in the supra- and sub-threshold range? The principles are comparable; however, fewer formal documentation requirements apply in the sub-threshold range.

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