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.

Definition: Prequalification is a procedure for the advance examination and official confirmation of an undertaking's suitability for public contracts, in which the suitability evidence is examined once and deposited in an official register, so that in later tender procedures a renewed full suitability assessment can be dispensed with.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: Art. 64 Directive 2014/24/EU, § 48 (8) BVergG 2018, §§ 37 et seq. VgV

What is prequalification?

Prequalification enables undertakings to demonstrate their suitability for public contracts once and have themselves entered in an official register, in order to substantially reduce the suitability assessment effort in later tenders. Instead of compiling extensive suitability evidence (references, evidence of economic and financial capacity, professional register entries, etc.) anew for every tender procedure, prequalified undertakings can refer to their register entry.

For the contracting authority, prequalification simplifies the suitability check, as they can rely on the register entries without having to examine the documents themselves.

Significance and function

Prequalification creates efficiency gains on both sides: undertakings save effort in compiling suitability evidence, and contracting authorities benefit from simplified and accelerated suitability assessments. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), prequalification can be particularly advantageous, as they are entered once into professionally maintained registers and are thereafter deemed suitable in numerous procedures.

Entry in a prequalification register is voluntary. Undertakings that are not prequalified may demonstrate their suitability via individual evidence in any procedure.

National systems

Austria – Company prequalification

In Austria, the Federal Public Procurement Act 2018 provides the legal basis for official registers of prequalified undertakings; in practice, company prequalification via the Austrian Federal Guild of Construction (UIV Urban Innovation Vienna) and industry-specific bodies is widespread. Austrian prequalification covers the examination of authorisations, references, financial capacity and technical capacities. The entry is time-limited and must be renewed regularly.

Germany – AVPQ, PQ-VOB, PQ-VOL

Germany has several prequalification systems, organised by sector:

PQ-VOB (prequalification for construction services): register of the German Procurement and Contracts Committee for Construction Services (DVA), administered by regional admission committees
PQ-VOL (prequalification for supplies and services): for undertakings in the supplies and services sector
AVPQ (Official Register of Prequalified Undertakings): central register under § 37 VgV

Registered undertakings are deemed suitable until the expiry of their entry; the contracting authority is not required to undertake a full re-examination of suitability.

Validity and renewal

Entries in prequalification registers are time-limited and must be renewed after expiry – generally every one to three years. Undertakings are obliged to notify the register without delay of material changes in their circumstances (e.g. insolvency, loss of certifications). The contracting authority may rely on the currency of the register as long as there are no indications to the contrary.

Legal basis

Prequalification is regulated in Art. 64 of Directive 2014/24/EU as an official list of approved economic operators.

Art. 64 Directive 2014/24/EU – Official lists of approved economic operators
§ 48 (8) BVergG 2018 – Recognised prequalification systems (Austria)
§ 37 VgV – Official registers and certification systems (Germany)
§ 6b EU VOB/A – Official registers for construction services (Germany)

Related terms

FAQ

Is prequalification a prerequisite for participating in public tenders? No. Prequalification is voluntary. Non-prequalified undertakings can demonstrate their suitability in any tender procedure by individual evidence.

What happens if a prequalified undertaking has lost the suitability conditions in the meantime? The undertaking is obliged to report this to the register. The contracting authority may, in the specific procedure, undertake additional checks despite the prequalification if there are concrete indications of a lack of suitability.

Does a prequalification apply in other EU Member States? The mutual recognition of prequalification registers from other EU Member States is provided for in Art. 64 (7) Directive 2014/24/EU: contracting authorities may not deny the suitability of prequalified foreign undertakings solely on the ground that they are not entered in a national register.

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