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.

Definition: Procurement manuals (VHB) are guides and handbooks issued by the federal government, the Länder or municipal umbrella associations for public contracting authorities. They contain template forms, checklists and explanatory notes for the legally compliant conduct of procurement procedures and are issued either as administrative provisions or as voluntary working aids.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal status: GWB, VgV, VOB/A, UVgO, BVergG 2018

What are procurement manuals?

Procurement manuals (VHB) are practice-oriented guides that provide orientation for public contracting authorities in the conduct of procurement procedures. They are issued by state bodies – in Germany, in particular by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building and the Länder ministries. The best-known procurement manual is the VHB-Bund (Procurement and Contract Manual for Federal Construction Works), which applies specifically to construction works of the federal government.

Procurement manuals typically contain:

Template forms for notices, procurement documents and contracts
Checklists for the various types of procurement
Explanatory notes on legal bases and their interpretation
Templates for procurement records and documentation
Guidance on suitability and award criteria

VHB-Bund

The Procurement and Contract Manual for Federal Construction Works (VHB-Bund) is the most important procurement manual at federal level and applies to all construction works financed with federal funds. It is issued by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) and is updated regularly. The VHB-Bund contains extensive template forms (so-called guidelines and guides) as well as guidance on the application of the VOB and VgV.

The current version (VHB 2017/2023) applies to all federal authorities and subordinate federal bodies and is binding as an administrative provision.

Procurement manuals of the Länder

Each federal state has developed its own procurement manuals or working aids, tailored to the specific procurement provisions of the respective Land. These may be designed as binding administrative provisions (e.g. for Land authorities) or as voluntary recommendations (e.g. for municipalities). Examples:

Bavaria: VHB Bayern (for construction works)
North Rhine-Westphalia: Circular Decree on the Procurement and Contract Manual
Baden-Württemberg: Procurement Manual of Baden-Württemberg

Binding effect

Depending on their legal status, procurement manuals are to be classified either as binding administrative provisions or as non-binding recommendations. As administrative provisions, they bind subordinate authorities but have no external effect on bidders. Deviations from the templates provided in the VHB are possible in individual cases but require particular justification.

Practical importance

In procurement practice, procurement manuals are indispensable working tools: they reduce the effort involved in drawing up procurement documents, ensure a consistent level of quality and minimise the risk of formal errors. From the familiarity of the VHB templates, bidders can infer the requirements that are typically imposed.

Related terms

FAQ

Is the VHB-Bund binding for all public contracting authorities? No. The VHB-Bund is binding only for federal authorities and subordinate bodies. Länder and municipalities have their own procurement manuals or may apply the VHB-Bund voluntarily.

Where can the VHB-Bund be downloaded? The VHB-Bund is published by the BMWSB and is available free of charge on the ministry's website and via the procurement manual portal.

Does the VHB also apply to supply and service contracts? The VHB-Bund is designed primarily for construction works. For supplies and services there are separate guides and working aids, oriented towards the VgV and UVgO.

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