Hauptkennzahl

Hauptkennzahl is a German term that translates literally as “main figure” or “primary key figure.” It is most commonly used in public procurement and other competitive bidding contexts to identify the single criterion that will determine the award of a contract. The Hauptkennzahl replaces a normally linear or co‑ordinated set of comparison metrics with a single, clearly defined performance measure that can be applied uniformly across all offers.

In practice, a Hauptkennzahl can be a price, a delivery time, a technical rating, or any other quantifiable factor that best reflects the procurer's key interest. For example, a city council might use the lowest unit price as the Hauptkennzahl for a supply contract, while a university may prefer the earliest delivery date for a construction project. Once the Hauptkennzahl is selected, all other evaluation criteria are treated as supporting or secondary information (Nebenkennzahlen) that can influence award decisions only if the primary figure is identical for two or more bids.

The use of a Hauptkennzahl is governed by European and German procurement laws, notably the Vergabeverordnung (VgV) and the European Union’s Public Procurement Directive. These regulations require that the main evaluation criterion be transparent, objective, and not open to manipulation. In addition, the awarding authority must publish the reasons for its decision, ensuring that the Hauptkennzahl’s role is clear to all participants.

Because a Hauptkennzahl streamlines the decision‑making process, it is often preferred in simple, quantity‑based procurements. In more complex projects, a combination of Haupt- and Nebenkennzahlen may be used in a weighted scoring system to reflect multiple dimensions of value. The term is a staple in procurement manuals, tender syndicates, and legal commentary on competitive contracting in Germany and other EU member states.