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.