If you bid for public construction work in Germany, the VOB is the framework you keep meeting. It is not one document but three, and each part does a different job. Knowing which part you are dealing with tells you whether you are reading award rules, contract terms or technical standards.
Short answer: The VOB, the Vergabe- und Vertragsordnung für Bauleistungen, is Germany’s rulebook for construction contracts. It has three parts. VOB/A covers how construction work is awarded, VOB/B covers the contract terms during the build, and VOB/C covers the technical standards. It is issued and updated periodically by the German construction procurement committee, the DVA.
VOB/A: how construction work is awarded
VOB/A sets the rules for awarding construction contracts by public buyers. It governs the procurement procedure for building work and separates national procedures, EU-wide tenders (VOB/A EU) and the utilities sectors, which follow different rules. If you are bidding, VOB/A is the part that shapes the competition you are entering.
VOB/B: the contract terms during the build
VOB/B contains the general contract conditions for carrying out the work. It sets out the rights and obligations of both sides during construction, including changes to the work, payment and defect claims. The defect-claims rules in particular are a frequent reference point once a project is running.
VOB/C: the technical standards
VOB/C holds the general technical contract terms, the ATV, trade by trade. These define how the work is carried out and measured for each construction trade, and they connect to the relevant technical standards.
Who has to use the VOB
The VOB is the standard for public construction contracts in Germany, and it is widely used in private construction too. For a public tender, expect VOB/A to govern the award and VOB/B and VOB/C to govern the contract you sign.
FAQ
Is the VOB a law? It is a set of rules issued by the DVA. Public buyers are bound to use it for construction, which gives it legal weight in that context.
What is the difference between VOB/A and VOB/B? VOB/A is about how the contract is awarded. VOB/B is about the terms once you are carrying out the work.
Does the VOB change? Yes, it is updated periodically, so always work from the current edition.