How much competition does a tender for R&D services in Germany face?
A median of 1 bid per procedure; 51% of procedures ended with a single bidder (3,667 awards with a bid count). National average for Germany across all sectors: 3.1 bids.
Search open tenders in this sector · Country guide Germany
The market norm in numbers
| Metric | Sector | National average | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bids per procedure (median) | 1 | 3.1 | 3,667 |
| Procedures with a single bidder | 51% | 32% | 3,667 |
| Awards to a repeat winner | 41% | 45% | 3,757 |
| Distinct winners | 2,010 | 203,477 | 3,918 |
| Awards to companies from abroad | 4% | 1% | 3,918 |
| Award relative to estimate (median) | 96% | 86% | 540 |
| Notice to award (median) | 103 days | 89 days | 500 |
| Bids from SMEs | 72% | 75% | 339 |
| Bids from abroad | 32% | 3% | 339 |
How to read these numbers
Of 44 sectors in Germany with a bid count, R&D services ranks 44 for competition. Every second tender effectively ends without competition — showing up often wins. 41% of awards went to companies that had already won with the same buyer — buyers switch often here.
Other sectors in the same country
- Construction work4 · 239,216
- Architecture & engineering3 · 107,902
- Cleaning, environment & waste4 · 42,548
- Transport equipment2 · 36,790
- Business services4 · 28,899
- IT services2 · 22,153
- Medical equipment & pharma2 · 21,619
- Software & IT systems1 · 15,907
- Education & training3 · 14,678
- Office & computing machinery2 · 12,920
- Transport services3 · 12,590
- Repair & maintenance2 · 12,413
Frequently asked questions
How many bidders does a tender for R&D services in Germany get?
A median of 1 bid per procedure, measured on 3,667 awards with a bid count since 2010. 51% of procedures had a single bidder.
How often does the incumbent win in Germany?
41% of awards in R&D services went to a company that had already won with the same buyer.
Do foreign companies stand a chance in Germany for R&D services?
4% of awards went to companies based outside Germany.
What share of the estimate does the winner get in R&D services?
The award came in at a median 96% of the estimated value.
Where the numbers come from
From the documented awards of every portal we read (TED and the national portals), aggregated every night. Bid counts come from the award notices themselves (TED BT-759, PLACSP, OCDS, Hilma, ANAC); incumbency counts whether the winner had won with the same buyer before; abroad means the winner's country differs from the buyer's. Metrics below the minimum sample are not shown.
As of 25/10/2026 · n = 3,918