Glossary
Public procurement terms, explained briefly and with sources.
O
Option in Public Procurement Law
An option is a reserved additional service or contract extension that must be included in the contract value estimate and transparently disclosed in the notice.
Optional Item in Public Procurement Law
An optional item is an optional line in the bill of quantities that the contracting authority may, but is not required to, call off after the award.
P
Paper Tenders in Public Procurement Law 2026
Paper tenders are in principle no longer admissible in the EU above-threshold sector. When exceptions apply and what rules govern the below-threshold sector.
Parallel Tender in Public Procurement Law 2026
Parallel tender: the simultaneous tendering of several alternative solutions for the same procurement task – admissibility and requirements.
Partial Cancellation of a Tender 2026 – Procurement Law Explained
Partial cancellation of a tender: the contracting authority cancels only part of the procurement procedure. Conditions, legal consequences and bidder protection.
Partial Evaluation in Procurement Law 2026 – Bid Evaluation by Criteria
Partial evaluation: evaluation of individual award criteria in the context of overall evaluation. Scoring systems, weighting and transparency principle in procurement law 2026.
Partial Lot in Procurement Law 2026 – Definition and Significance
Partial lot: A single lot within a public contract divided into lots. Significance for bidders and contracting authorities in the procurement procedure explained.
Participation Deadline in Procurement Law
The participation deadline is the statutory minimum period for submitting requests to participate in the restricted procedure and the negotiated procedure.
Party Status in Public Procurement Law 2026
Party status in procurement review proceedings: who is entitled to participate as a party in a review procedure and assert rights?
Performance Deadlines in Public Procurement Law 2026
Performance deadlines: contractually agreed periods for the delivery of publicly tendered services. Significance in procurement and construction law.
Performance Location in Procurement Law
The performance location is the place where the work is to be carried out, must be stated in tender notices and determines the NUTS code in the contract notice.
Performance Period in Procurement Law 2026
Performance period in procurement law: contractually agreed period for carrying out the tendered work and its importance for tender notices and tender evaluation.
Performance Retention (Deckungsrücklass) in Procurement
Performance retention: contractor security withheld from the contract price to cover warranty claims. Typically 5% of the final account. § 1170b ABGB. An Austrian-specific concept.
Place of Performance in Public Procurement Law 2026
Place of performance in public procurement: definition, relevance for jurisdiction, NUTS codes, tenderer selection and contract law in public procurement in Germany and Austria.
Planning Competition Procurement Law 2026
Planning competition in procurement law: competitive procedure for obtaining plans in architecture, urban planning and engineering. Legal basis and process.
Plausibility Checks in Public Procurement Law 2026
Plausibility checks in tender procedures: examining tenders for completeness, consistency and arithmetical accuracy.
Post-Tender Negotiations in Public Procurement 2026
Post-tender negotiations in public procurement: prohibition of unlawful negotiations after bid submission in the open procedure, and the permissible scope in the negotiated procedure.
Pre-Qualification Competition Documents 2026 – Procurement Law in Brief
Pre-qualification competition documents: documents for the first stage of two-stage procurement procedures. Content, provision and legal requirements 2026.
Pre-Qualification Competition in Procurement Law
Pre-qualification competition: first stage of a two-stage procurement procedure with suitability check and applicant selection. Art. 29 Directive 2014/24/EU, § 46 BVergG 2018, § 17 VgV.
Preclusion in Public Procurement Law 2026
Preclusion in public procurement: loss of the right to challenge procurement breaches when not raised in time – time limits, consequences and exceptions.
Preclusive Deadline in Public Procurement Law 2026
Preclusive deadline in procurement law: non-extendable deadline for complaints and review applications. Missing it leads to loss of rights.
Preliminary Award Decision 2026 – Notification Before the Award
The preliminary award decision informs bidders before the final award is made and enables review proceedings to be initiated.
Preliminary Work in Public Procurement Law 2026 – Services Before the Tender
Preliminary work in procurement law: planning, market consultation and preparatory services prior to the tender and their effect on the award.
Prequalification for Construction Works (PQ-VOB) 2026
PQ-VOB: the official prequalification register for construction companies – certification procedure, requirements, validity period and benefits in public tendering.
Prequalification for Contracts under VOB 2026
Prequalification under VOB: advance suitability assessment of construction companies for public contracts – PQ-VOB system, advantages and procedure.
Prequalification for Contracts under VOL and UVgO 2026
Prequalification under VOL and UVgO: advance suitability assessment of suppliers and service providers – procedure, benefits and legal basis.
Prequalification for Supplies and Services (PQ-VOL) 2026
PQ-VOL: prequalification system for supply and service contracts of public bodies – function, requirements and differences from the PQ-VOB system.
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.
Prequalification in Public Procurement Law 2026
Prequalification allows companies to evidence their suitability once and be relieved of repeating the suitability check in future tender procedures.
Price Discount in Public Procurement Law 2026
Price discount in public procurement: admissibility and effect of rebates and discounts on tenders to contracting authorities – rules and pitfalls.
Price Enquiry in Public Procurement Law 2026
Price enquiry in public procurement: informal market exploration by contracting authorities before the award – distinction from a formal tender and legal limits.
Price Fixing in Public Procurement Law 2026
Price fixing in public procurement: anti-competitive agreements between bidders on tender prices and their consequences in the tender procedure.
Price in Public Procurement Law 2026
Price as an award criterion in public procurement: significance, weighting and relationship to quality criteria when evaluating tenders.
Price Information in Public Procurement Law 2026
Price information in the tender procedure: bidders' duty to provide complete and accurate price information and the consequences of faulty or missing entries.
Price Law for Public Contracts 2026
Price law for public contracts: rules on market prices, cost-based prices and price controls in public procurement in Germany and Austria.
Price Verification in Public Procurement Law 2026
Price verification in public procurement: duty and procedure for examining abnormally low tenders, legal basis and consequences for bidders and contracting authorities.
Primary Law in Public Procurement 2026
Primary law in procurement: EU treaties and fundamental freedoms as the highest legal source of procurement law – significance for public contract awards.
Primary Legal Protection in Public Procurement 2026
Primary legal protection in procurement: remedies before contract conclusion to prevent unlawful awards – review proceedings and interim injunction.
Principle of Economy in Procurement Law 2026
The principle of economy requires public contracting authorities to use public funds prudently and efficiently and to achieve the best price-quality ratio.
Principle of Equal Treatment in Procurement Law
The principle of equal treatment requires public contracting authorities to treat all bidders by the same standards and to avoid discrimination of any kind.
Principle of Investigation in Procurement Law 2026
Principle of investigation: the duty of procurement review bodies to establish the facts ex officio – its role in review proceedings.
Principle of Self-Submission in Procurement Law 2026
Principle of self-submission in procurement law: tenderers must submit required evidence and documents on their own initiative. Definition, duties and deadlines.
Principles of Procurement in Procurement Law 2026
The principles of procurement are the fundamental legal principles of public procurement: competition, transparency, equal treatment and proportionality.
Prior Information Notice in Public Procurement Law
The prior information notice is the voluntary EU announcement of planned public contracts up to 12 months in advance and allows shorter tender deadlines in the later procedure.
Prior Information Notice on the Tender 2026 – Pre-Announcement in Procurement Law
The prior information notice on the tender announces planned procurement procedures, enables shorter tender deadlines and informs the market at an early stage.
Private Tender in Public Procurement Law 2026
Private tender: distinction from public tender, application of procurement principles and significance for private contracting parties in Germany and Austria.
Privatisation in Public Procurement Law 2026
Privatisation in procurement law: transfer of public tasks to private entities and the procurement-law relevance of the various forms of privatisation.
Prize (Competition Award) in Public Procurement Law 2026
Prize in public procurement: remuneration for competition participants and unsuccessful tenderers in design contests and negotiated procedures – legal basis.
Prize Competition Procedure in Procurement Law 2026
Prize competition procedure (design contest): planning and ideas competition under procurement law for architectural and engineering services. Process, legal basis and jury members.
Procedure Participants in Procurement Law 2026
Procedure participants in procurement law: contracting authorities, bidders, candidates and other actors in the procurement and review procedure. Rights and duties.
Procedure Types in Procurement Law
Procedure types in procurement law: an overview of the open procedure, restricted procedure, negotiated procedure, competitive dialogue and innovation partnership.
Procurement Advisory Office in Public Procurement Law 2026
Procurement advisory office: free advisory body for bidders and contracting authorities on procurement matters. Tasks and contact points in Austria and Germany.
Procurement and Contract Code 2026 – VOB, VOL, VOF at a Glance
Procurement and contract code: umbrella term for VOB, VOL and VOF – the German rulebooks for public procurement of works, supplies and services.
Procurement Award in Public Law 2026 – Term and Significance
Procurement award: umbrella term for the engagement of companies by public contracting authorities. Procedure, principles and legal basis.
Procurement Chamber Decision in Procurement Law 2026
Procurement chamber decision: ruling in the review procedure. Content, effect, legal remedies and deadlines under GWB and BVergG 2018.
Procurement Criminal Law 2026 – Corruption and Criminal Liability in Procurement
Procurement criminal law covers criminal provisions on corruption, collusion and breach of trust in public procurement in Austria and Germany.
Procurement Documents in Procurement Law
Procurement documents are all documents that the contracting authority provides for the procurement procedure, including the specifications, suitability requirements and contract terms.
Procurement Documents in Procurement Law 2026
Procurement documents: the entirety of tender documents including specification, contract conditions and suitability requirements. Contents and obligations.
Procurement Files 2026 – Documentation Duty in Procurement Law
Procurement files: Mandatory documentation by public contracting authorities of all material decisions in the award procedure. Content, form and legal effect.
Procurement Law Reform 2016 – Modernisation of German and European Procurement Law
Procurement law reform 2016: transposition of EU Directives 2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU and 2014/23/EU. Key changes for contracting authorities and bidders at a glance.
Procurement Management 2026 – Organising and Steering Public Procurement
Procurement management: planning, conducting and controlling public procurement procedures. Tasks, methods, digital tools and best practices explained.
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.
Procurement Office (VSt) in Procurement Law 2026 – Tasks and Duties
The procurement office (VSt) is the organisational unit of the public contracting authority that conducts procurement procedures and awards the contract.
Procurement Ordinance (VgV) in Procurement Law
The Procurement Ordinance (VgV) governs the award of public contracts in the above-threshold area for the classical sector in Germany. Transposition of Directive 2014/24/EU.
Procurement Platform 2026 – Electronic Platforms for Public Tenders
Procurement platform: electronic systems for public tenders. Well-known platforms in Germany and Austria, functions and obligations.
Procurement Portal 2026 – Finding and Submitting Public Tenders Online
Procurement portal: online portals for public tenders. Overview of national and EU portals, registration and use by bidders.
Procurement Procedure under Procurement Law 2026
Overview of procurement procedures: All types of procedure in public procurement – open procedure, negotiated procedure, competitive dialogue and more.
Procurement Process 2026 – Step-by-step Course of Public Procurement Procedures
Procurement process: all phases of a public procurement procedure, from needs identification to contract conclusion. Course of proceedings, time limits and legal requirements.
Procurement Process Procurement Law 2026
Procurement process in the public sector: all steps from needs assessment to contract conclusion in public procurement law. Workflow and phases.
Procurement Record in Procurement Law
The procurement record is the legally required documentation of the entire procurement procedure and a central instrument for transparency, review and audit-office oversight.
Procurement Reference Number 2026 – Unique Identifier for Procurement Procedures
Procurement reference number: a unique identifier for public procurement procedures. Function, structure and meaning for bidders and contracting authorities at a glance.
Procurement Regulation for Freelance Services (VOF) 2026 – History and Successor
VOF – Procurement Regulation for Freelance Services: the historic regulatory framework for architects and engineers, superseded by VgV 2016. Overview and current legal position.
Procurement Regulations / Historic Award Regulations 2026 – Overview of the German Rulebooks
Procurement regulations / historic award regulations: overview of VOB, VOL, VOF, VgV and UVgO as the rulebooks of German public procurement law. History and current legal position.
Procurement Review Authority 2026 – Oversight in Procurement Law
Procurement review authority: State bodies that supervise compliance with procurement law. Procurement chambers, audit offices and supervisory authorities.
Procurement Review Laws 2026 – Legal Protection in Procurement Law
Procurement review laws: Länder laws on the review of procurement activity by public contracting authorities in the sub-threshold area. Overview of state-level rules.
Procurement Review Procedure 2026 – Legal Protection in Public Procurement
Procurement review procedure: legal protection for unsuccessful bidders before the Public Procurement Chamber. Standing, time limits, course of proceedings and remedies explained.
Procurement Service Provider in Procurement Law 2026
Procurement service provider in procurement law: central purchasing bodies and external service providers handling procurement procedures for contracting authorities.
Procurement Software 2026 – Digital Solutions for Public Procurement
Procurement software: Digital tools for contracting authorities and bidders in the procurement process. Features, providers, selection criteria and the duty to use e-procurement.
Procurement Statistics 2026 – Data and Figures on Public Procurement
Procurement statistics: Collection, analysis and importance of statistical data on public procurement in Germany and the EU. Legal basis and use.
Procurement Statistics Ordinance (VergStatVO) 2026 – Reporting Obligations for Contracting Authorities
Procurement Statistics Ordinance (VergStatVO): Reporting obligations of public contracting authorities for procurement statistics. Scope, deadlines and practical implementation.
Procurement Transaction in Procurement Law 2026
Procurement transaction in procurement law: the specific individual case of a public procurement. Delineation from the procurement process and relevance for documentation.
Procurement Transformation Package 2026 – Reform of German Procurement Law
The Procurement Transformation Package modernises German procurement law: simplification, digitalisation and strategic procurement objectives at a glance.
Product Neutrality in Public Procurement Law
Product neutrality prohibits references to specific brands or manufacturers in technical specifications; exceptions only with the addition 'or equivalent'.
Professional Services in Public Procurement Law 2026
Professional services in procurement law: awarding architectural, engineering, and legal advisory services. Procedure selection and special features of the award.
Prohibition of Circumvention in Public Procurement Law 2026 – Protection Against Evasion of Procurement Duties
Prohibition of circumvention: contracting authorities must not evade procurement obligations through contract design or contract splitting. Principle and case groups.
Prohibition of Double Evaluation in Public Procurement
Prohibition of double evaluation: ban on using the same criteria as both selection and award criteria. BVergG 2018, CJEU case law. A key distinction in procurement law.
Prohibition on Negotiation in Procurement Law
The prohibition on negotiation bars contracting authorities, in the open and restricted procedures, from any negotiation with bidders about the content of bids after bid opening.
Project Management in Public Procurement Law 2026
Project management in procurement: contracting, scope of services and procurement-law classification of project management services under AHO and HOAI.
Proof of Economic and Financial Standing in Public Procurement 2026
Proof of economic and financial standing: evidence of bidders' economic and financial capability in public procurement procedures under VgV and BVergG 2018.
Proof of Technical and Professional Ability in Public Procurement 2026
Proof of technical and professional ability in public procurement: evidence of bidders' technical and professional capability within the suitability assessment by public contracting authorities.
Provisional Item in Procurement Law 2026
Provisional item in the bill of quantities: definition, function, distinction from base items, and legal treatment in bid evaluation.
Public Call for Participation before Freehand Award 2026
Public call for participation before freehand award: two-stage below-threshold procedure with upstream public applicant selection.
Public Call for Participation before Restricted Tender 2026
Public call for participation before restricted tender: two-stage procedure with public application phase and form-bound submission of bids.
Public Call for Participation in Procurement Law 2026
Public call for participation: pre-procedure for bidder selection in the restricted procedure – process and procurement-law requirements.
Public Contract in Public Procurement Law 2026
Public contract: the contract for pecuniary interest between public contracting authority and undertaking – core concept of procurement law.
Public Contract Notice in Public Procurement Law 2026
Public contract notice: mandatory publication of public contracts in the EU Official Journal (TED) or national media. Contents, deadlines and rules.
Public Contracting Authority Procurement Law 2026
Public contracting authority: who is subject to procurement law? Review scheme, body governed by public law, distinction from sector contracting authority under Art. 2 Dir 2014/24/EU.
Public Contracts in Public Procurement Law 2026
Public contracts: definition, types and procurement-law obligations for procurements by public contracting authorities in Austria and Germany.
Public Funding in Procurement Law 2026
Public funding and procurement law: when do EU funds and national subsidies trigger tendering obligations? Legal bases and consequences.
Public Procurement Chamber Decisions in Procurement Law 2026
Public procurement chamber decisions: rulings, binding effect, legal remedies and the importance of chamber case law for public procurement law in 2026.
See which matches BOND finds for your company.
Free expert call
Talk to us- 30 minutes
- Online via Microsoft Teams