On 22 September 2025, the Competition Working Group met at the federal headquarters. Chaired by Christian Jürgensmann, the meeting focused on the planned amendment to the 2013 Guidelines for Planning Competitions (RPW).

In particular, the draft clarifies the rules governing design competitions and, for the first time, includes a separate section on ideas competitions. The aim is to further strengthen competition procedures as a means of ensuring high standards in urban planning and the quality of open spaces. Technical guidance can be found in Information Sheets 51 and 52 of the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects.

The reform of procurement procedures was also the subject of intense discussion. Whilst the proposed relaxation of the ‘lot’ principle is welcomed, the retention of the ‘most economically advantageous tender’ criterion as the sole basis for decision-making has drawn criticism. Attention was also drawn to the ‘Vergabe-Wahl-O-Mat’ (procurement decision-making tool) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, which does not currently take planning competitions into account. At the suggestion of the bdla, the Ministry indicated that an expansion of the tool was planned for the coming year.

Another key focus was on the procurement platforms run by the state chambers of architects. The ‘Vergabekompass’ in Bavaria was presented as an example. Via the platform www.beste-vergabe.bayern, procedures are assessed according to defined criteria, with RPW procedures generally receiving a positive rating. In this context, the role of competition supervisors was also discussed. In several federal states, there are currently deviations from the professional qualification requirements laid down in Section 2(5) of the RPW, which may compromise the quality of the procedures. The bdla is seeking closer coordination with the Federal Chamber of Architects on this matter.

Finally, possibilities for closer cooperation with the Economics Working Group were discussed, with a view to defining interfaces more clearly and exploiting synergies.

Source: bdla association journal ‘landschaftsarchitekt:innen’ 4/2025

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