What is a Main Bid?
The main bid (Hauptangebot) is the primary offer that a bidder submits in direct response to the requirements, specifications, and conditions laid out in the tender documents. It represents the bidder's proposal to fulfill the contract exactly as specified by the contracting authority, without deviations or alternative approaches. Every bidder participating in a procurement procedure must submit a main bid; it is the mandatory baseline offer against which all bids are evaluated and compared.
The main bid must comply fully with all requirements stated in the tender documents, including technical specifications, commercial terms, formal submission requirements, and any mandatory conditions. Any deviation from the specified requirements in the main bid can lead to exclusion from the procedure. This strict compliance requirement ensures that all main bids are comparable and can be evaluated against the same criteria and benchmarks.
The main bid typically consists of several components: a completed pricing schedule or bill of quantities with the bidder's prices, any required technical documentation or concept descriptions, evidence of suitability (unless already provided through an ESPD or prequalification), and all mandatory declarations and certifications specified in the tender documents. The format and structure of the main bid are usually prescribed by the contracting authority, and bidders must adhere to these specifications precisely.
Why It Matters for Bidders
The main bid is the foundation of a bidder's participation in any procurement procedure. It must be prepared with meticulous attention to detail, as even minor non-compliances can result in exclusion. Bidders should establish a systematic review process that verifies compliance with every requirement before submission, including formal requirements such as signatures, declarations, and document formats.
When a procurement also permits variant bids (Nebenangebote), the main bid remains mandatory, as variant bids can only be submitted alongside a compliant main bid. Bidders should allocate their primary effort to the main bid before considering whether a variant bid could provide additional competitive advantage.
Legal Framework
The requirement to submit a compliant main bid is established through the general principles of procurement law in the GWB and further detailed in the VgV and UVgO. Section 57 VgV specifies the grounds for excluding bids that do not comply with formal requirements. For construction works, VOB/A contains detailed provisions on the content and format of main bids.