What is a Contract Award Notice?
A contract award notice (German: Auftragsbekanntmachung, also Vergabebekanntmachung) is the mandatory publication about the award of a public contract. It informs the market about which contract was awarded to which company, serving transparency and traceability of public procurement.
Distinction from Other Notices
| Type | Timing | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Prior information | Before procedure | Early market information |
| Contract notice (ex ante) | Start of procedure | Call for participation/bids |
| Award notice (ex post) | After award | Information on awarded contract |
| Corrigendum | During procedure | Correction of errors |
Legal Framework
- § 39 VgV: Publication of award notice above thresholds
- Art. 50 Directive 2014/24/EU: Contract award notice
- § 30 UVgO: Award notice below thresholds (from €25,000 net)
- § 18 EU VOB/A: Award notice for construction contracts
Mandatory Contents
- Contracting authority: Name, address, type, main activity
- Procedure: Type, reference number, CPV codes
- Successful bidder: Company name and registered office, SME status
- Contract value: Final total value, lowest and highest bid
- Procedure information: Number of bids received, bids from other EU states, use of electronic means
Deadlines
Award notices must be published within 30 days of contract award in both above- and below-threshold procurements.
Publication Channels
- TED: For EU-wide procurements above thresholds
- National platforms: DTVP, Vergabe24, subreport ELViS, etc.
- Official gazettes: Federal Gazette, state tender bulletins
Importance for Bidders
Market intelligence: Which competitors win which contracts? What prices are achieved? How many bidders participate?
Legal protection: Verify proper procedure, basis for damages claims, information on results.
Strategic planning: Competition analysis, follow-up tender identification, framework contract monitoring.
eForms
Since October 2023, above-threshold award notices must use the eForms format — an EU-standardized electronic format improving data quality and machine readability.
Patterno hilft
Patterno systematically analyzes contract award notices, providing valuable market intelligence: which competitors win in your segment, what prices are achieved, and which authorities regularly issue tenders. With Patterno, you can optimize your bidding strategy based on data.