Service · Business development
Public tenders for construction companies
Bautique helps construction and trade businesses win public contracts. We compile all the documents contracting authorities require in a qualification dossier, keep it up to date and introduce your company to building authorities and administrations.
When a municipality issues a public tender
Cantons and municipalities award construction contracts under the Intercantonal Agreement on Public Procurement (IVöB 2019). Which procedure applies depends on the contract value:
| Procedure | Main construction trades | Finishing trades |
|---|---|---|
| Direct award | below CHF 300’000 | below CHF 150’000 |
| Invitation procedure | below CHF 500’000 | below CHF 250’000 |
| Open or selective procedure | from CHF 500’000 | from CHF 250’000 |
Source: IVöB 2019, Annex 2 (thresholds outside the scope of international treaties). Separate values apply to the federal government under the BöB. The law of the respective canton is decisive.
Below the thresholds for open procedures, municipalities invite selected companies directly. Anyone not on the list of contractors never hears about many contracts. Larger contracts are published on simap.ch .
The qualification dossier
Public contracting authorities and many institutional clients check before awarding whether a company is suitable. The qualification dossier contains all the usual documents for this, up to date and ready to hand as a PDF:
- Commercial register extract
- Debt enforcement register extract, usually required to be no older than three months
- Self-declaration on working conditions and collective labour agreement, occupational safety and equal pay
- Proof of business liability insurance
- Reference list in tender format: project, client, contract sum, execution period and contact person
- Key personnel with short CVs, organisation chart and certificates
Who does what
- Bautique prepares the templates, tells you which certificate to order where, checks validity and updates the dossier every six months.
- You order the official certificates.
Getting onto the list of contractors
As part of our direct outreach, we introduce your company as an agency to building authorities, municipal property administrations and school authorities, with your reference portfolio attached. This increases the chance of being invited to invitation procedures.
Frequently asked questions about public tenders
Above what amount must a municipality put construction work out to public tender?
Under the IVöB 2019, from CHF 500’000 in the main construction trades and from CHF 250’000 in the finishing trades. Below that, the invitation procedure and, for smaller contracts, direct award are possible.
How does my company get onto a municipality’s list of contractors?
By introducing yourself to the responsible office, usually the building department or the property administration, and submitting your qualification documents. Bautique handles the introduction as an agency and compiles the qualification dossier.
Does Bautique fill in the quote for the tender?
No. The costing and the prices stay with the construction company. Bautique makes sure your qualification dossier is complete and up to date when you need it.
Further services
- Business development for construction companiesDirect outreach as an agency, meetings
- Quote follow-upNo more quotes without an answer
Public contracts in your region
In the initial consultation we clarify how your company can win work with municipalities and contracting authorities in your region.
Request a consultation