COVID-19: Temporary increase of value limits in NRW

In order to minimise the economic restrictions in connection with the COVID 19 pandemic, the North Rhine-Westphalian state government raised the value limits for public contracts within the specified award procedures for a limited period of time on 16 February 2021 with the circular "Acceleration of investments by raising value limits under public procurement law for the procurement of services". The regulations of the decree apply until 31.12.2021.

Accordingly, the following net value limits have applied in North Rhine-Westphalia since the decree came into force on 20.03.2021:

Construction work:
- up to 15,000 euros pre-estimated order value: Direct order
- up to 750,000 euros Singleorder value or 1,250,000 Euro pre-estimated Totalorder value: Restricted invitation to tender without competitive bidding
- up to 75,000 euros Singleorder value or 125,000 Euro pre-estimated Totalorder value: Freehand
Services and supplies
- up to 15,000 euros estimated contract value: Direct order
- up to 100,000 euros estimated contract value: Restricted invitation to tender without competitive bidding or negotiated procedure
Freelance services
- up to 25,000 euros estimated contract value incl. ancillary costs: Direct order
- up to 150,000 euros estimated contract value incl. ancillary costs: Negotiated award with one bidder under consideration of further boundary conditions
Social and special services
- up to 250,000 euros estimated contract value: Public invitation to tender or restricted invitation to tender with or without a call for competition or negotiated award with or without a call for competition

Furthermore, the principles of competition, transparency and economy apply. Care should also be taken to ensure that as many different companies as possible are considered for the awards.

Outside of these special regulations in connection with the COVID 19 pandemic, the following value limits apply in accordance with the circular of the Ministry of Finance dated 11.05.2018:

Construction work:
- Finishing trades, landscaping and street furniture up to 50,000 euros; civil engineering up to 150,000 euros; all other construction works up to 100,000 euros: Restricted invitation to tender without competitive bidding (VOB/A, §3a, Para. 2 No. 1).
- Finishing trades, landscaping and road equipment up to 100,000 euros; civil engineering and road construction up to 300,000 euros; all other construction work up to 200,000 euros: Restricted invitation to tender with competitive bidding (VV zu LHO - Nr. 2.2.1)
- Construction work up to 25,000 euros: negotiated or negotiated award (VV zu LHO - Para. 2.2.2)
Services and supplies
- up to 50,000 euros: Restricted invitation to tender without competitive bidding (VV zu LHO - Para. 2.2.1)
- up to 25,000 euros: Negotiated award (VV zu LHO - Para. 2.2.2)
Construction, supply and services
up to 1,000 euros: Direct award (VV zu LHO - para. 2.2.3)