Prequalification for Contracts under VOL and UVgO 2026

Definition: Prequalification for contracts under VOL and UVgO is a voluntary advance assessment procedure in which suppliers and service providers prove their suitability for public supply and service contracts to a recognised body and are entered in a prequalification register.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: UVgO, § 45 VgV, VOL/A, BVergG 2018

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Prequalification in the supplies and services sector

Unlike the construction sector (PQ-VOB), a central, nationwide uniform prequalification system for supply and service contracts is less well established, although public procurement law provides for it. § 45 VgV allows contracting authorities to recognise official registers or certifications as suitability evidence. The UVgO contains comparable provisions for the sub-threshold range.

Official registers and certifications

Public contracting authorities may accept certificates and evidence from recognised bodies as suitability proof, provided that these substantively cover the required suitability criteria. These include ISO certifications (e.g. ISO 9001 for quality management), sector-specific quality certificates and recognised quality marks. Bidders who present such certificates need not provide further individual evidence.

Differences from the VOB system

In contrast to the construction sector, the supplies and services sector lacks a comprehensive, uniform prequalification system. This is due, among other things, to the much greater variety of services procured. Instead, contracting authorities accept a wide range of industry-specific certifications and evidence. In certain sectors (e.g. IT, cleaning services), however, sector-specific prequalification systems have developed.

Practical significance

For bidders it is advisable to obtain and maintain industry-standard certifications, since these are recognised as suitability evidence in numerous tender procedures and reduce the effort involved in preparing tenders. Contracting authorities should clearly indicate in the tender documents which certificates and register entries are accepted as suitability evidence, in order to ensure transparency.

FAQ

Is there a central prequalification register for supplies and services? A nationwide uniform system like PQ-VOB does not exist for supplies and services. However, industry-specific systems and recognised certifications do exist.

Which certificates are accepted as suitability evidence? This depends on the requirements of the specific contracting authority. ISO certifications, industry-specific quality marks and other recognised evidence are frequently accepted.

What happens if a tenderer has no certificate? They can demonstrate their suitability by other appropriate evidence, e.g. reference lists, company profiles and financial evidence.

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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.