VOB – Procurement and Contract Regulations for Construction Works 2026

Definition: The Procurement and Contract Regulations for Construction Works (VOB) are a three-part German set of rules for the award and performance of construction works, containing procurement provisions (VOB/A), general contract conditions (VOB/B) and technical contract conditions (VOB/C).

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: VOB 2019 (2019 edition), § 2 VgV, §§ 86 et seq. GWB

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What is the VOB?

The Procurement and Contract Regulations for Construction Works (VOB) are the central set of rules for public construction procurement in Germany and one of the most important contractual frameworks in construction law. They are issued by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) in cooperation with the German Procurement and Contract Committee for Construction Works (DVA) and are regularly updated. The VOB is not a statute but a set of private-law rules that – largely mandatory for public contracting authorities – is incorporated into construction contracts.

The three parts of the VOB

The VOB is divided into three parts that are functionally aligned with one another:

VOB/A – Award of construction works

VOB/A governs the procurement procedure for public works contracts. It is divided into three sections:

• Section 1: Applies to construction works below the EU thresholds (national procurement)
• Section 2 (EU section): Applies to EU-wide tenders above the thresholds; supplements the Procurement Ordinance (VgV)
• Section 3: Applies to procurement in the utilities sectors (water, energy, transport) and the Utilities Ordinance (SektVO)

VOB/B – General contract conditions for construction works

VOB/B contains the general contract conditions that govern the rights and obligations of the contracting authority and the contractor during the performance of the works. They include rules on completion deadlines, remuneration, acceptance, defects rights and termination. VOB/B significantly modifies the statutory contract-for-work rules of the BGB; it can also be incorporated into private construction contracts, with special restrictions under standard-terms law applying to consumers.

VOB/C – General technical contract conditions for construction works

VOB/C comprises the general technical contract conditions (ATV) for various trades. They are issued as DIN standards and contain, among other things, rules on measurement and billing, ancillary services and special services. The ATV are organised by trade (e.g. DIN 18300 earthworks, DIN 18330 masonry).

Scope of application

For public contracting authorities (federal government, states, municipalities), the application of the VOB to the award of construction works is largely mandatory under budgetary law and administrative regulations. VOB/A applies above the EU thresholds in addition to the VgV; below the thresholds, Section 1 of VOB/A applies. The incorporation of VOB/B and VOB/C in the works contract is likewise customary and is generally required by budgetary law for public contracting authorities.

Significance and reform

Despite its long history (first edition 1926), the VOB is a living set of rules that is regularly adapted to new legal and technical requirements. The current 2019 edition reflects in particular the requirements of the 2016 EU procurement-law reform and the digitalisation of the construction process (BIM – Building Information Modeling). Further reform is being discussed in the context of the planned German procurement transformation package.

FAQ

Must private contracting authorities also apply the VOB? No, private contracting authorities can voluntarily incorporate the VOB into their construction contracts but are not required to do so. For public contracting authorities, application is generally prescribed by budgetary law.

What is the difference between VOB/A and VgV? The VgV applies to supply and service contracts and as the general procurement-law regime above the EU thresholds. VOB/A applies specifically to construction works and is supplemented by the VgV to the extent that it does not contain differing rules.

Does the VOB also apply in Austria? No. In Austria, the Federal Procurement Act 2018 (BVergG 2018) applies, together with ÖNORM B 2110 as the general contract standard for construction works. The VOB is a purely German set of rules.

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