What is a Planning Contract?
A planning contract (German: Planungsauftrag) is a public service contract for architectural and engineering services. It typically covers the planning of construction projects through various service phases defined by HOAI.
Legal Basis
- § 103(4) GWB: Planning services are service contracts
- §§ 73–77 VgV: Special rules for planning competitions and freelance services
- HOAI: Fee schedule (since 2021 as orientation values, no longer binding)
Service Phases (HOAI)
Nine phases from basic research (LPH 1) through preliminary design, detailed design, approval planning, execution planning, procurement preparation, to construction supervision (LPH 8) and project aftercare (LPH 9).
Special Procurement Rules
Planning services are frequently awarded through negotiated procedures (§ 74 VgV), justified because the service cannot be precisely defined in advance and qualitative aspects dominate.
Planning Competition
For significant projects, a planning competition may be conducted (§§ 78–80 VgV) with anonymous submission of designs evaluated by a jury.
Award Criteria
Qualitative criteria dominate: project team qualification (20–30%), approach/concept (25–35%), references (15–25%), fee (15–25%), sustainability (5–10%).
Phased Commissioning
Planning contracts are often commissioned in stages, with the authority reserving the right to commission each subsequent phase.
Practical Tip
Patterno filters planning tenders by discipline (architecture, structural engineering, building services, transport) and service phase.