What is Contract Award?
Contract award (German: Zuschlagserteilung) is the formal act by which a contracting authority accepts a bidder's offer, thereby concluding the contract for the tendered service.
Legal Framework
- Section 127 GWB: Award
- Section 134 GWB: Information and standstill obligation
- Section 58 VgV: Award above EU thresholds
Prerequisites
Before the award, these steps must be completed: bid evaluation (all four stages), procurement record documentation, standstill notification to unsuccessful bidders, standstill period (10–15 days), and no pending review proceedings.
Award Criteria
The contract is awarded to the most economically advantageous tender: lowest price, best price-quality ratio, or lifecycle costs.
Legal Consequences
Contract formation, binding effect on both parties, and obligation to publish the award notice on TED (above thresholds).
Invalidity
The award may be invalid under Section 135 GWB if standstill notification was missing, the contract was awarded without any procedure, or the standstill period was violated.
How Patterno Helps
With Patterno, you track the entire procurement process through to contract award, staying informed about procedure status and all deadlines.