With the new procurement map, the digital association Bitkom makes visible how much the procurement rules differ across federal states and what opportunities this creates for Munich startups. The map shows the amounts up to which authorities can award contracts without formal procedures. It provides the first detailed overview of the so-called direct procurement thresholds.
Authorities in Bavaria can award contracts directly up to 100,000 euros without having to conduct a time-consuming procurement process. This places Bavaria well above states like Saxony, where the threshold is only 500 euros. However, Bavaria does not exhaust the maximum limit of 221,000 euros allowed by the European Union, as Baden-Württemberg does, for example.
Moderate entry opportunities into public contracts for Bavarian startups
For Munich startups, this means: After successful direct contracts, further procedures such as negotiated procurement or restricted calls for tenders are available in Bavaria, both with an upper limit of 221,000 euros. This makes it possible to implement larger innovation projects with administrative institutions or municipal enterprises.
Ralf Wintergerst, president of the digital association Bitkom, comments:
“Whoever wants to digitalize the public administration should also rely on innovations from startups. This means, among other things, taking into account the special conditions of young companies and avoiding lengthy procurement procedures.”
Especially for Munich startups active in areas such as GovTech, AI, or digital infrastructure, the Bavarian regulation can be an important foundation for winning the public sector as customers. Public contractors can use this approach to test and implement new solutions more quickly, which benefits both sides.
Nationwide startup-friendly procurement rules demanded
Wintergerst calls for reducing the existing differences between the states:
“Our goal should be to create nationwide uniform procurement rules for startups and to weave together the current patchwork.”
Uniform rules could make it easier for Munich startups to bring their solutions not only locally but also nationwide into administrations. The procurement map is available online on the Bitkom website and provides an interactive overview of all state regulations. Users can find out there directly which threshold values apply in their federal state and which procedures are best suited for young companies.
