What is a Maintenance Contract?
A maintenance contract in public procurement covers the regular care, inspection, and upkeep of technical systems, equipment, building technology, or software. It is typically awarded as a service contract.
Legal Basis
Maintenance contracts are classified as service contracts (§ 103(4) GWB). Depending on value, VgV (above threshold) or UVgO/state law (below threshold) applies.
Typical Maintenance Contracts
Building technology (HVAC), elevators, IT systems, medical technology, fire protection, and grounds maintenance, with typical durations of 1–5 years.
Contract Contents
Service description: Type and scope of maintenance, intervals, equipment inventory, response times for faults, on-call arrangements.
Contractual terms: Duration and extension options, compensation model, liability, termination, SLAs, spare parts.
Distinction from Related Contract Types
| Type | Focus |
|---|---|
| Maintenance contract | Regular preventive care |
| Full-service contract | All-inclusive including spare parts |
| Service contract | Broader spectrum including hotline |
Procurement Specifics
Framework agreements: maximum 4 years. Manufacturer-bound maintenance may justify single-source award (§ 14(4) No. 2 VgV).
Practical Tip
Maintenance contracts offer reliable recurring revenue. Patterno identifies maintenance tenders automatically and notifies you when matching contracts are published.