You've decided to participate in public tenders. Good decision. But where do you find the right contracts? The landscape of tender platforms in Germany is diverse – and confusing at first glance. This guide shows you where to look.

The Basic Principle: Everything Runs Electronically

Since 2020, electronic procurement (e-procurement) has been mandatory for all public contracts above EU thresholds. But even below these limits, more and more contracting authorities are using digital platforms. Paper applications are history.

This means for you: You need access to the right platforms. And there are quite a few.

The Federal Reality: Many Platforms, One Goal

Germany is a federal state. And you notice this with tender platforms too. There's no central place where all tenders are published. Instead:

  • The federal government has its own platform
  • Each federal state operates its own systems
  • Municipalities use various providers
  • Plus there are private sector portals

Sounds complicated? It is. But it can be managed systematically.

The Most Important Platforms in Detail

Federal E-Procurement Portal

The official procurement platform of the federal administration. Here you'll find tenders from federal ministries, federal agencies, and other federal authorities. Registration is free.

Tip: Set up search profiles. This way you'll be automatically notified when new tenders in your field are published.

German Tender Portal (DTVP)

One of the largest private sector platforms. Many municipalities and public institutions use DTVP for their procurements. Basic functions are free, extended features cost extra.

Subreport ELVIS

Particularly widespread in construction. Many state construction authorities and municipal building departments use this system. If you're in construction, you can't avoid Subreport.

State Portals

Almost every federal state operates its own tender portal:

  • Bavaria: Vergabeplattform Bayern
  • NRW: Vergabemarktplatz NRW
  • Baden-Württemberg: Vergabeportal BW
  • Saxony: eVergabe Sachsen
  • Brandenburg: Vergabesatellit
  • Hamburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt: Own e-procurement systems

Usage is generally free but requires separate registration for each.

EU-Wide Tenders: TED is Mandatory

For contracts above EU thresholds, there's no way around TED (Tenders Electronic Daily). TED is the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union and the central publication platform for Europe-wide tenders.

What you need to know about TED: - All EU-wide tenders must be published here - Search is free - You can filter by country, industry, CPV code, and many other criteria - Email notifications are possible

TED is not an application platform. Bid submission is done through the contracting authority's respective national platform. So TED shows you that a tender exists – you have to apply elsewhere.

Don't Forget Specialized Portals

Besides general tender platforms, there are industry-specific portals:

Deutsche Bahn: The DB Bidder Portal is mandatory for anyone wanting to win railway contracts. From construction work to IT services to cleaning contracts – everything runs through this portal.

Autobahn GmbH: Since the highway reform, there's a dedicated procurement platform for contracts related to the highway network.

Energy Utilities: Large utilities like EnBW operate their own supplier portals.

The Right Strategy: Systematic, Not Chaotic

With so many platforms, a structured approach is crucial:

1. Define Your Search Profile

  • What region do you operate in?
  • What services do you offer?
  • What contract sizes are realistic?

2. Register Strategically

Not every platform is relevant for you. Focus on:

  • Platforms in your target region (federal state, municipality)
  • TED for larger contracts
  • Industry-specific portals, if applicable

3. Set Up Notifications

All relevant platforms offer alert functions. Use them. Daily manual searching is inefficient and error-prone.

4. Archive Systematically

Save all tender documents in a structured way. You'll need them for bid preparation – and possibly later for documentation.

What Do the Platforms Cost?

The good news: Most basic functions are free. You can register, search for tenders, and submit bids without paying.

What often costs money:

  • Extended search functions
  • Automatic notifications with some providers
  • Premium analysis tools
  • Aggregators that combine multiple platforms

For getting started, the free functions are completely sufficient. As your tender business grows, a paid subscription may be worthwhile.

Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Being Too Late Tender deadlines are not suggestions. Miss the deadline, and you're out. Set up calendar reminders.

Mistake 2: Using Only One Platform The right contract could be published on a platform you're not monitoring. Cover your relevant markets.

Mistake 3: Underestimating Technical Issues Setting up electronic signatures, running software updates, checking browser compatibility – do this before the submission deadline, not on the last day.

Conclusion: Invest in Your Search Strategy

Searching for suitable tenders is not a side matter. It's the first step to every successful bid. Invest time in a solid search strategy and the right platforms.

In the next article, we explain thresholds – the magic limits at which different rules apply.