What is a Mini-Competition?
A mini-competition (German: Miniauftrag) is a shortened competitive procedure within an existing framework agreement. Framework partners are invited to submit offers for a specific need.
Legal Framework
- Section 21(4) VgV: Individual contract award under multi-partner framework agreements
- Section 103(5) GWB: Definition of framework agreement
- Art. 33 Directive 2014/24/EU: EU directive on framework agreements
Process
| Step | Description | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Needs request | Department reports specific need | 1–2 days |
| 2. Invitation | All framework partners invited to bid | 1 day |
| 3. Offer period | Partners prepare and submit offers | 5–10 days |
| 4. Evaluation | Assessment per framework criteria | 2–3 days |
| 5. Award | Contract to best-value offer | 1 day |
Advantages
- Speed: Much shorter timelines than new tenders
- Simplification: Suitability already verified at framework stage
- Competition: Price competition despite framework agreement
How Patterno Helps
With Patterno, you find framework agreement tenders that form the basis for future mini-competitions. Our AI identifies framework opportunities in your field.