Austria spends approximately €45 billion annually on public procurement, around 12% of GDP. This guide covers the key portals, legal framework, thresholds, and practical tips you need to find and win Austrian government contracts.
By TenderRadar Team
Austria's public procurement market is worth approximately €45 billion per year, representing around 12% of GDP. Procurement is carried out at federal, state (Bundesländer), and municipal levels. The nine Bundesländer — Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, Tyrol, Carinthia, Salzburg, Burgenland, and Vorarlberg — each maintain their own contracting authorities alongside federal ministries and agencies. Austria is an EU member state and signatory to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), meaning above-threshold tenders follow harmonized EU procedures. Bundesbeschaffung GmbH (BBG) serves as the central purchasing body for the federal government, aggregating demand and managing framework agreements that cover a wide range of goods and services.
~€45B
Annual procurement value
~12%
Share of GDP
Austrian public procurement is governed by the Bundesvergabegesetz 2018 (BVergG 2018), which transposes the EU procurement directives (2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU, and 2009/81/EC) into national law. The BVergG 2018 regulates procedures for both above- and below-threshold contracts, covering classical public sector procurement as well as utilities (Sektorenauftraggeber). Concessions are regulated under a separate section of the BVergG 2018. Each Bundesland may adopt supplementary procurement regulations for sub-central authorities, but the BVergG 2018 provides the overarching framework. Procurement disputes are handled by the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (BVwG — Federal Administrative Court) for federal contracts, and by the respective Landesverwaltungsgerichte for state and municipal contracts.
Key authority: Federal Ministry of Justice (Bundesministerium für Justiz)
Austria's primary federal e-procurement platform operated by BBG (Bundesbeschaffung GmbH). All federal contracting authorities are required to publish tenders here. Free to search; registration required to download documents and submit bids electronically.
Visit portalAll Austrian tenders above EU thresholds must be published on TED. Essential for monitoring high-value contracts across all contracting authorities in Austria.
Visit portalAustria's official procurement gazette for publishing contract notices. Many state and municipal authorities use this platform alongside or instead of Auftrag.at.
Visit portalBBG's electronic catalogue and framework agreement platform. Federal bodies and participating entities order standardized goods and services through the E-Shop. Suppliers must first win a BBG framework agreement to be listed.
Visit portalIndividual contracting authority profile pages where buyers publish procurement plans, prior information notices, and direct contract opportunities. Useful for identifying upcoming tenders early.
Visit portal| Category | Threshold (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Supplies | €221,000 |
| Services | €221,000 |
| Works | €5,538,000 |
Standard EU thresholds apply (2024-2025 cycle). Central government bodies (e.g., federal ministries) use €143,000 for supplies/services. Sub-central authorities and utilities use €221,000 for supplies/services. Below-threshold contracts follow simplified procedures under BVergG 2018 but still require competition and transparency. All values are net of VAT (Umsatzsteuer).
Austria's mountainous geography drives major investment in tunnels (Brenner Base Tunnel, Koralm Tunnel), motorways (ASFINAG), and rail (ÖBB). ÖBB and ASFINAG are among the country's largest contracting entities.
CPV: 45
Austria's digital government strategy (Digitales Österreich) fuels procurement in e-government platforms, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and data analytics across federal and state administrations.
CPV: 72
Hospital procurement, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and aged care services. Austria's universal healthcare system and Krankenanstalten (hospitals) generate consistent tender volume.
CPV: 33
Austria's commitment to climate neutrality by 2040 drives procurement in renewable energy (hydro, wind, solar), grid modernization, and environmental remediation projects.
CPV: 09
As a major tourism destination, Austria procures services for cultural institutions, event infrastructure, national parks, and destination marketing — particularly at the state and municipal level.
CPV: 92
The Bundesheer (Austrian Armed Forces) procures military equipment, IT systems, vehicles, and facility maintenance under the BVergGVS framework.
CPV: 35
Auftrag.at is the gateway to federal procurement. Registration is free and gives you access to tender documents, electronic submission, and the ability to set up automated alerts for relevant CPV codes and regions.
Nearly all Austrian tenders require bids in German. Technical specifications, supporting documents, and correspondence must be in German or accompanied by certified translations. Invest in German-language capability if you plan to bid regularly.
Bundesbeschaffung GmbH manages framework agreements worth billions annually. Winning a spot on a BBG framework provides a steady stream of call-off orders from federal bodies without repeated bidding. Monitor BBG's procurement plan for upcoming frameworks.
Austrian contracting authorities maintain buyer profiles (Auftraggeber-Profile) where they publish procurement plans and prior information notices. Reviewing these profiles helps you anticipate tenders months before formal publication.
Austria has strict procurement review timelines. For federal contracts, challenges go to the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (BVwG). You must file within very tight deadlines — typically 7-10 days for below-threshold and 10-15 days for above-threshold contracts after becoming aware of the decision. Missing the deadline forfeits your right to challenge.
For large infrastructure or complex IT tenders, forming a Bietergemeinschaft (bidding consortium) with local Austrian firms can strengthen your bid. Austrian authorities are familiar with consortium structures and the BVergG 2018 explicitly permits them.
While Auftrag.at focuses on federal tenders, each of the nine Bundesländer and their municipalities issue significant volumes of tenders independently. Monitor Lieferanzeiger and state-specific portals to capture the full market.
See how Tender Radar covers Austria: Austriacoverage details, portals & sources →
Austrian federal tenders are published on Auftrag.at, the official e-procurement platform operated by BBG. Above EU thresholds, tenders also appear on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily). State and municipal tenders may appear on Lieferanzeiger or individual buyer profile pages. TenderRadar aggregates all these sources into a single feed with AI-powered matching.
Yes. All EU/EEA companies have equal access to Austrian tenders above EU thresholds under EU procurement directives. Companies from WTO GPA signatory countries also have access. For below-threshold tenders, the BVergG 2018 generally does not restrict participation by nationality, though practical requirements like German-language bids and local references may apply.
In practice, yes. The vast majority of Austrian tenders require submissions in German. Tender documents, technical specifications, and evaluation criteria are published in German. Some EU-level or international organization tenders may accept English, but this is rare for national procurement.
Bundesbeschaffung GmbH (BBG) is Austria's central purchasing body for federal government procurement. BBG manages framework agreements for common goods and services — from IT hardware and office supplies to consulting and energy. Over 100,000 products and services are available through BBG's E-Shop. If you supply standardized goods or services, getting on a BBG framework agreement is one of the most effective ways to access the Austrian public sector market.
For open procedures above EU thresholds, the minimum tender period is 35 days from publication (30 days with electronic submission). Restricted procedures require at least 30 days for the application phase. Evaluation and award typically take 4-12 weeks depending on complexity. The mandatory standstill period (Stillhaltefrist) is 10 days for above-threshold and 7 days for below-threshold contracts before the contract can be signed.
Federal procurement is centralized through Auftrag.at and BBG, with the BVwG handling disputes. The nine Bundesländer operate more independently — each has its own contracting authorities, may use different portals (e.g., Lieferanzeiger), and procurement disputes go to the respective Landesverwaltungsgericht. However, all levels follow the BVergG 2018 as the overarching legal framework.
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