What does that actually mean?
36 important terms, with English equivalents and short explanations. Turn unfamiliar words into an understandable next step.
36 terms
Submission receipt
Abgabebestätigung- Confirmation of successful formal transmission. Check its details and timestamp; an uploaded file alone is not proof of submission.
Tender deadline
Angebotsfrist- The latest permitted arrival of the tender. Check the original date, time, time zone and any changes.
Buyer / contracting authority
Auftraggeber- The organisation purchasing the work, supplies or services. A public buyer is often an authority or public body.
Tender opportunity
Ausschreibung- A buyer explains what it wants to purchase and how suppliers may compete. The documents and procedure rules set the actual process.
Procurement notice
Bekanntmachung- The published notice about a procedure. It leads to the authoritative documents; a short notice summary alone is not enough to prepare a bid.
Tenderer / bidder
Bieter- A business or joint bidding group submitting a tender.
Clarification question
Bieterfrage- A question about the procedure or documents through the designated channel. Continue monitoring answers and amendments.
Joint bidding group / consortium
Bietergemeinschaft- Several businesses bid together. Their roles, declarations and responsibilities must meet the procedure requirements.
Tender preparation tool
Bietertool- An application supported by the portal for preparing or submitting a bid. The procedure determines whether a browser or installed tool is required.
Tender validity period
Bindefrist- The period for which the supplier remains bound by its tender. It differs from the submission deadline.
Common Procurement Vocabulary code
CPV-Code- A standard category for the purchase. It helps with searching but does not replace reading the specification.
European Single Procurement Document
EEE / ESPD- A standard self-declaration used in certain public procurements. The documents explain whether and how it is used.
Self-declaration
Eigenerklärung- A supplier declaration about requested facts. Use the required version and provide accurate information.
Suitability / selection
Eignung- The assessment of whether a supplier meets the required professional, economic and technical conditions.
Reliance on another entity’s capacities
Eignungsleihe- A supplier relies on another entity’s capacities under specific conditions. This requires more than an informal understanding.
Electronic signature
Elektronische Signatur- An electronic means of signing. The procedure instructions specify whether and which type is required.
Weighting
Gewichtung- The relative importance of an evaluation criterion. The published method governs the procedure.
Specification
Leistungsbeschreibung- The description of the required deliverables and requirements. Your bid must address them clearly.
Schedule of works / items
Leistungsverzeichnis- An itemised schedule, often with quantities and price fields. Follow its required structure.
Lot
Los- A separable part of a contract, such as a region or specialist service. Check which lots you may bid for and their individual requirements.
Minimum requirement
Mindestanforderung- A condition that must be met. An attractive price does not replace a mandatory minimum requirement.
Request for missing information
Nachforderung- A possible request for missing or unclear information under the applicable rules. Do not assume errors can be fixed later.
Subcontractor
Nachunternehmer- Another business carries out part of the work. Disclosure, evidence and approval requirements may apply.
Variant tender
Nebenangebot- An alternative to the requested main solution. Use it only where variants are permitted and their requirements are met.
Open procedure
Offenes Verfahren- A procedure in which interested suppliers may submit a tender. Eligibility, instructions and deadlines still apply.
Prequalification
Präqualifikation- An advance assessment of certain supplier evidence. It does not guarantee award or replace every contract-specific requirement.
Reference contract
Referenz- Evidence of previous comparable delivery. Check the required scope, period and permitted evidence; never invent references.
Tenders Electronic Daily
TED- The EU portal for certain public procurement notices. It provides information and links; submit through the channel specified in the procedure.
Request to participate
Teilnahmeantrag- An application to participate in a multi-stage procedure. It is not automatically the final price and technical tender.
Text form
Textform- A specified form of declaration. It is not automatically the same as a qualified electronic signature; read the actual requirement.
German procurement rule sets
UVgO / VgV / VOB/A- Different German rule sets with different scopes. The contract, buyer and procedure help determine which rules apply.
Procurement documents
Vergabeunterlagen- The full pack of specifications, conditions, forms and procedural instructions, including updates.
Negotiated procedure
Verhandlungsverfahren- A procedure with specific selection and possible negotiation rules. It does not create a general right to renegotiate any submitted tender.
Evaluation matrix
Wertungsmatrix- A structured view of criteria, weights and scoring. Use it to organise your response without inventing award rules.
Contract award
Zuschlag- The award decision or declaration within the relevant procedure. A strong ranking alone does not automatically create a contract.
Award criteria
Zuschlagskriterien- The published criteria used to evaluate admissible bids, such as price, quality or particular delivery factors.
Short definitions provide orientation. The actual documents and applicable rules govern form, deadlines and rights.
Sources and further official reading