Tendering large projects as a single contract excludes many SMEs. Dividing into lots splits them into parts that can be awarded individually and opens up competition.
The rules
Art. 32 PPA and the corresponding IVöB provision allow the authority to divide the contract into lots and award them to one or several suppliers. It may limit the number of lots one supplier can win and provide that bids for several lots are evaluated together. These rules must be stated in the tender.
Typical divisions
By specialist area, for example development, operation and training of an IT system; by region or site; by time period or product group. Whether division makes sense depends on interfaces: too many lots create coordination effort for the authority, too few prevent competition.
What suppliers should note
The suitability criteria apply separately to each lot, often with different requirements. The bid/no-bid decision should be taken per lot: a supplier ideal for one lot need not bid for all. Where the authority allows combined bids, a discount for several lots can be an advantage if clearly stated.
Lots and consortia
Lots and bidding consortia are two routes to the same goal: giving SMEs access to larger contracts. Where there are no lots, joining with partners is often the only option.