Tenders in Austria

How to find public tenders in Austria

Who buys and which rules apply

Public buyers in Austria are the Federation (Bund), the nine states (Länder), the municipalities and their associations, together with bodies governed by public law (BVergG 2018 § 4). Companies in sectors such as water, energy and transport buy as utility sector buyers.

One federal law applies at every level: the Federal Procurement Act 2018 (BVergG 2018). The Federation makes the procurement law, while review is split: the Federal Administrative Court reviews federal buyers and the state administrative courts review state and municipal buyers (B-VG Art. 14b). Concessions follow the BVergGKonz 2018 and defence contracts the BVergGVS 2012.

The Procurement Law Act 2026 (BGBl. I Nr. 8/2026) wrote the national limits for direct awards into the BVergG itself from 1 March 2026, and new publication rules have applied since 1 October 2026.

Where tenders are published

Above the EU thresholds, the buyer sends the notice electronically to the EU Publications Office, which publishes it in TED, the online supplement to the Official Journal of the EU (BVergG § 56). Access to TED is free.

For national publication, buyers provide the notice data in an open, machine-readable format under a free licence (BVergG §§ 59 and 64). The USP must show all these notices in a free, searchable list, updated at least daily (BVergG § 54 para. 2). The USP tender search covers tenders under the BVergG 2018 and needs no registration.

Many states, the city of Vienna and buyers such as the Bundesbeschaffung GmbH (BBG), the federal central purchasing body, also publish in their own media and on their own tender platforms, where the documents and bids are handled.

The main procedures

Open procedure

The buyer publishes the tender and any company may submit a bid (BVergG § 31 para. 2).

Restricted procedure

With a prior notice, companies first apply to take part and the buyer invites selected applicants to bid. Without a prior notice, the buyer invites companies directly, which is allowed only in set cases (BVergG § 31 paras. 3 and 4).

Negotiated procedure

The buyer negotiates the bids with selected companies, with or without a prior notice, on legal grounds only (BVergG § 31 paras. 5 and 6).

Direct award

The buyer awards the contract directly to a suitable company, below the value limits. Above EUR 50,000 the buyer must ask for at least three offers or price quotes (BVergG §§ 31 para. 11 and 46).

Direct award with prior notice

The buyer publishes the intention, any company may submit an offer, and the buyer picks the best one without a formal procedure (BVergG §§ 31 para. 12 and 47).

Other procedures

Framework agreements, dynamic purchasing systems, competitive dialogue and innovation partnerships (BVergG § 31 paras. 7 to 10).

Thresholds

The estimated contract value, excluding VAT, decides which rules apply. From the EU thresholds a contract must be tendered EU-wide and appears in TED.

Works below EUR 2 million may also be tendered in a restricted procedure without prior notice (BVergG § 43). Utility sector buyers use their own thresholds (EUR 432,000 for supplies and services). The national limits have no expiry date; the separate threshold regulations of earlier years no longer apply.

How to find tenders that fit

1. Search the USP tender search. It is free, needs no registration and covers tenders under the BVergG 2018.
2. Search TED for contracts above the EU thresholds.
3. Check the publication media of the states where you work and the tender pages of large buyers such as the BBG.
4. Remember that many smaller contracts are awarded directly. Being known to the buyers in your region matters.
5. Use our free directory to see Austrian tenders from TED, the USP and the Austrian tender platforms in one list, filtered by sector, with a summary in your language and a link to the original notice.

257 current Austrian notices in our free directory. Browse them above · Numbers for every country

Questions about Austrian public tenders

Where are public tenders in Austria published?

Tenders above the EU thresholds are published in TED. National notices are shown in the free tender search of the USP (usp.gv.at), and many states and buyers also publish in their own media and on their tender platforms.

Is the USP tender search free?

Yes. The law requires the USP to show the notices free of charge (BVergG § 54 para. 2), and the search needs no registration.

Up to what value may an Austrian public contract be awarded directly?

Since 1 March 2026, below EUR 200,000 for works and below EUR 140,000 for supplies and services, both excluding VAT (BVergG § 46). Above EUR 50,000 the buyer must ask for at least three offers or price quotes.

From what value must an Austrian contract be tendered EU-wide?

From EUR 5,404,000 for works, EUR 140,000 for supplies and services of central government buyers and EUR 216,000 for those of other public buyers, from 1 January 2026. Values exclude VAT.

How long do I have to submit a bid?

Above the thresholds, at least 30 days in an open procedure, plus 5 days if documents or bids are not handled electronically (BVergG § 71). Below the thresholds, at least 20 days in an open procedure (BVergG § 76). The deadline is always in the notice.

Is there a free way to search all Austrian tenders in one place?

Yes. Our public directory lists 257 current Austrian notices from TED, the USP and the Austrian tender platforms. It is free, needs no login, and links every notice to its original.

Sources

• Federal Procurement Act 2018 (BVergG 2018), consolidated text, RIS
• Federal Constitutional Law (B-VG), Art. 14b, RIS
• EU thresholds notice, BGBl. II Nr. 214/2026, RIS
• Federal Ministry of Justice circular on the 2026 and 2027 thresholds (8 January 2026)
• USP tender search (usp.gv.at)
• USP: tender databases and publication media
• About TED, Publications Office of the EU
• Bundesbeschaffung GmbH: current tenders