Public procurement

May 28, 2024

Source: Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy

The quality and environmental aspects of building materials are to play a greater role in public tenders for construction services on the initiative of Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger.

A low price alone does not guarantee that an offer is actually economical, explains the minister. "Regional providers with environmentally friendly and quality-conscious production often don't get a chance in public tenders. Instead, bids that are cheap but supply low-quality materials from other parts of the world win out. In the overall view, building materials that are produced in the region from sustainable raw materials and have short transportation routes are often more economical." As an example, the Minister of State cites natural stone, which is quarried and processed in Bavaria.

  "Public procurement law has many mechanisms for the possible consideration of quality, environmental relevance and social criteria," clarifies Aiwanger. For example, bidders can be enabled to prevail over low-cost providers in the award procedure by complying with the aforementioned criteria. "I appeal to all state and municipal procurement bodies to make full use of the available options and scope. In this way, the public sector can strengthen the regional and European economy and promote sustainability", the Minister of Economic Affairs is convinced.

 The guide "The most economical offer", available on the homepage of the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, provides assistance for procurement bodies.