What is GAEB Data Exchange?
GAEB Data Exchange is the industry-standard format for electronic exchange of construction tender data in Germany. GAEB stands for Joint Committee for Electronics in Construction and defines uniform data formats for bills of quantities, bids, measurements, and invoices.
Data Exchange Phases
| Phase | Code | Description | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill of quantities | DA83 | BoQ without prices (tender) | Client → Bidder |
| Bid | DA84 | BoQ with bidder prices | Bidder → Client |
| Contract | DA85 | Commissioned BoQ | Client → Contractor |
| Measurement | DA86 | Quantity determination | Contractor → Client |
| Invoice | DA89 | Progress/final invoice | Contractor → Client |
Versions
| Version | Year | Format | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAEB 90 | 1990 | ASCII | Obsolete |
| GAEB 2000 | 2000 | ASCII (extended) | Still used |
| GAEB DA XML 3.3 | 2019 | XML | Current standard |
GAEB in Public Tenders
Since the mandatory e-procurement requirement (2018/2020), GAEB is the standard exchange format. Procurement platforms support GAEB import/export, clients provide the BoQ as DA83, and bidders submit their offer as DA84.
Benefits
For bidders: Automatic import into calculation software, no manual position entry, consistent data structure, error reduction.
For clients: Automated price comparison, uniform bid structure, digital continuity through to billing.
GAEB and BIM
Integration with Building Information Modeling enables 5D-BIM (cost-linked 3D models) and automatic quantity determination from BIM models.
Patterno Helps
Patterno-BID for construction imports GAEB DA83 bills of quantities directly from procurement platforms and automatically transfers them into the calculation environment. The AI agent prices positions and generates the finished GAEB DA84 export.