Prequalification in Public Procurement Law 2026

Definition: Prequalification in public procurement law refers to the procedure in which an undertaking has its suitability (professional expertise, performance capacity, reliability) examined and certified in advance by an approved body, so that in subsequent tender procedures it can dispense with submitting that evidence again.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: Art. 64 Directive 2014/24/EU; § 122 GWB; § 52 VgV; §§ 81 et seq. BVergG 2018

---

What is prequalification?

Prequalification is the most efficient means of cutting red tape in suitability evidence: undertakings submit their documents once and benefit from this on a lasting basis. Instead of submitting commercial register extracts, subcontractor lists, reference lists and financial evidence again in every tender, a reference to the prequalification register is sufficient. Contracting authorities can rely on the fact that the information has been recently checked.

The concept is anchored at EU level in Art. 64 of Directive 2014/24/EU, under which Member States may establish official lists of approved economic operators or certification systems.

Official registers and prequalification bodies

Germany

In Germany, contracting authorities and trade associations operate various prequalification systems:

• PQ VOB: the best-known system for construction companies; maintained via the contracting authority database (AUFTRAGGEBER.DE / PQ VOB)
• AVPQ (Official Register of Prequalified Undertakings): a nationwide system under § 52 VgV for supply and service undertakings

Austria

Austria also has prequalification systems, in particular:

• List of Suitable Undertakings (LGU) in construction
• Industry-specific certifications (e.g. in the healthcare sector)

What is examined?

Prequalification examines the same suitability criteria that would be relevant in a tender procedure. Typical items examined:

• Authorisation to pursue the profession: commercial register entry, trade licence, professional qualifications
• Economic and financial capacity: balance sheets, turnover figures, insurance evidence
• Technical and professional capacity: reference lists, staff qualifications, equipment
• Reliability / grounds for exclusion: criminal record extracts, clearance certificates from tax offices and social insurance bodies

The certification is generally valid for one year and must then be renewed.

Advantages of prequalification

For bidders:

• Considerable time savings when preparing tenders
• One-off compilation of documents instead of repeated re-submission
• Market signal of reliability to contracting authorities

For contracting authorities:

• Simplified and accelerated suitability assessment
• Up-to-date evidence thanks to ongoing monitoring by the prequalification body
• Lower risk of faulty or out-of-date documents

Legal effect in the tender procedure

Evidence of a valid prequalification generally exempts bidders from submitting the corresponding individual evidence. Contracting authorities must recognise the register entry, provided that it is admissible under public procurement law. They may, however, require that missing evidence or evidence not covered by the PQ be submitted separately.

FAQ

Is prequalification mandatory? No. It is voluntary for undertakings. Contracting authorities may, however, accept the PQ as preferred suitability evidence.

Can a contracting authority require prequalification as the sole suitability evidence? No, that would be discriminatory. Bidders must always have the possibility to demonstrate their suitability by other means (e.g. by submitting the documents directly).

What does prequalification cost? Costs vary by system and by the company's turnover. For PQ VOB, annual fees typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand euros.

---

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