€163,000 Hamburg sports hall wall tender cancelled after zero bids

SBH | Schulbau Hamburg has cancelled a tender for impact wall (Prallwand) installation at the Carl-Götze-Schule sports hall extension after receiving no bids. The estimated €163,000 contract was part of a larger €11.7 million project to build a two-court sports hall with a daycare centre. The procurement was cancelled due to a change in needs.

Introduction

As part of the expansion of the Carl-Götze-Schule in Hamburg, SBH | Schulbau Hamburg is constructing a two-court sports hall with an integrated daycare centre. The project, with a total estimated value of €11.7 million, includes a DIN-compliant, competition-ready sports hall with spectator facilities.

One of the specialist work packages within this larger project was the installation of the impact wall (Prallwand)—a critical safety feature for sports halls that protects athletes and walls from high-impact ball games. The contract, valued at an estimated €163,000, covered 345 m² of plywood impact wall panels, acoustic perforation, doors, and associated fittings.

However, the tender received zero bids and was cancelled due to a change in needs, leaving the project to seek alternative procurement routes for this specialist work package.

Why This Contract Matters

Sports hall impact walls are essential safety features that protect both athletes and the building structure. The installation of a Prallwand requires specialist expertise in sports facility construction.

This contract matters because it:

• Supports school sports infrastructure: Part of a larger project to expand the Carl-Götze-Schule
• Ensures safety: Impact walls protect athletes from injury and walls from damage
• Specialist work: Requires expertise in sports facility construction and acoustic solutions
• Part of larger investment: The overall project is worth €11.7 million
• Demonstrates market challenges: Zero bids indicate limited supplier interest or capacity

Contract Timeline

• Contract award notice published: 7 August 2026 (OJ S 151/2026)
• Planned execution period: November 2026 – January 2026 (approximately 3 months)
• Outcome: Cancelled - change in needs, zero bids received

Contract Overview

SBH | Schulbau Hamburg conducted an open procedure (VOB/A) for this procurement. The contract covers the installation of the impact wall (Prallwand) for the new sports hall at Carl-Götze-Schule.

Key features included:

• Single lot: Impact wall installation
• Duration: Approximately 3 months (November 2026 – January 2026)
• Estimated value: €163,000 (part of €11.7 million total project)
• Evaluation: Price only (100%)
• Procedure: Open procedure under VOB/A (German Construction Contract Procedures)
• Bids received: 0

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting authority	SBH | Schulbau Hamburg
Contract subject	Impact wall installation (Prallwand) – CPV 45432210
Procedure type	Open procedure (VOB/A)
Legal basis	EU Directive 2014/24/EU
Estimated value (ex-VAT)	€163,000.00
Total project value	€11,735,000.00
Contract duration	3 Months (November 2026 – January 2026)
Bids received	0
EU funding	Fully or partially financed with EU funds
Covered by GPA	Yes
Outcome	Cancelled - change in needs
Evaluation criteria	Price only (100%)

Project Scope

The contract covered the installation of the impact wall (Prallwand) for the new sports hall at Carl-Götze-Schule. The scope included:

Impact Wall Elements

• 345 m² Plywood impact wall panels for sports use
• 240 m² Additional acoustic perforation (3 mm)
• 130 m Base/skirting boards (Sockelleiste)

Doors and Fittings

• 1 x Sports hall equipment room door (approx. 2.30 x 2.50 m)
• 1 x Sports hall equipment room door (approx. 2.45 x 2.50 m)
• 5 x Sports hall internal doors, single-leaf (approx. 1.16 x 2.20 m)
• 1 x Sports hall external door, double-leaf (approx. 2.235 x 2.53 m)
• 1 x Sports hall external door, single-leaf (approx. 1.735 x 2.53 m)
• 1 x Sports hall external door
• 2 x Steel U-frames (885 x 2,135 m)
• 2 x HPL internal doors
• 1 x HPL T-30 internal door, single-leaf (approx. 1.14 x 2.26 m)

Other Elements

• 1 x Control room window (1.16 x 1.135 m)
• 2 x Equipment hatches (approx. 500 x 2500 mm)

About the Contracting Authority

SBH | Schulbau Hamburg is a public enterprise (Landesbetrieb) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. SBH is responsible for planning, constructing, maintaining, and managing school properties across Hamburg, taking into account educational needs and economic principles. The organisation manages more than 400 schools and leases them to the Authority for Schools and Vocational Education (BSB).

About the Winning Company

No contract was awarded. The tender received zero bids and was cancelled due to a change in needs. No winning company exists for this procurement.

Procurement Analysis

• Procedure: An open procedure under VOB/A (German Construction Contract Procedures) was used.
• Competition: Zero bids were received, indicating a complete lack of market interest.
• Evaluation criteria: Price only (100%). However, this criterion could not be applied as no bids were submitted.
• Cancellation reason: The procurement was cancelled due to a change in needs (Änderung des Bedarfs).
• EU funding: The project is fully or partially financed with EU funds.
• Project context: The contract was part of a larger €11.7 million project for a new sports hall and daycare centre.

Reasons for Zero Bids

Several factors may have contributed to the lack of bids:

• Specialist nature: Impact wall installation requires specialist expertise in sports facility construction and acoustic solutions
• Limited supplier pool: Only a small number of companies have the required expertise and certifications
• Small contract value: At €163,000, the contract may have been too small to attract larger contractors
• Timing: The planned execution period (November 2026 – January 2026) may have conflicted with other commitments
• Price-only evaluation: Suppliers may have been unwilling to compete solely on price for a specialist installation
• EU sanctions: The procurement included sanctions-related exclusion criteria (Russia sanctions), which may have limited the pool of eligible bidders

Additional Procurement Facts

• The contract is covered by the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).
• The project is fully or partially financed with EU funds.
• The procurement was not accelerated.
• No dynamic purchasing system was used.
• No framework agreement was used.
• The tender was cancelled due to a change in needs (Änderung des Bedarfs).
• Zero bids were received.
• The procurement included Russia sanctions-related exclusion criteria (5th EU sanctions package, April 2022).
• Disputes or review requests fall to the Vergabekammer bei der Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Wohnen in Hamburg.
• The contract would have been subject to the Hamburg Transparency Act (HmbTG).

Market & Industry Perspective

The German construction market for specialist sports facility work is characterised by a limited number of specialised contractors. Impact wall installation requires expertise in sports hall construction, acoustic solutions, and compliance with DIN standards for sports facilities.

Key trends in this market include:

• Specialist expertise: Limited pool of contractors with sports facility construction expertise
• Project bundling: Specialist work packages are often bundled with larger projects to attract bidders
• Capacity constraints: The construction sector is facing capacity constraints
• Price pressure: Price-only evaluation may discourage specialist contractors

The cancellation of this tender highlights the challenges of procuring specialist construction work packages separately from larger projects. SBH may need to consider alternative procurement approaches for the impact wall installation, such as bundling it with other work packages or using a negotiated procedure.

Economic Significance

At €163,000, this contract represents a relatively small but important component of the larger €11.7 million sports hall project. The cancellation may delay the overall project timeline, as the impact wall installation is a critical safety feature that must be completed before the sports hall can be used.

For specialist contractors, the cancellation represents a missed opportunity, though the small contract value may have limited its attractiveness. The broader €11.7 million project will still go ahead, and the impact wall work will need to be procured through alternative means.

Future Procurement Opportunities

With the procurement now cancelled, future opportunities include:

• Re-tender: The contract is likely to be re-tendered with possible adjustments
• Bundling: The work may be bundled with other specialist packages to attract bidders
• Negotiated procedure: SBH may use a negotiated procedure to engage directly with specialist contractors
• Main contractor: The work may be awarded to the main contractor for the sports hall project

Opportunities for Suppliers

While this procurement is cancelled, future opportunities exist for specialist construction companies:

• Re-tender: The contract is likely to be re-tendered—prepare for a second round
• Bundling: Be prepared to bid for larger bundled packages that include impact wall installation
• Engage early: Engage with SBH to understand their requirements and potential procurement changes
• Specialist certifications: Ensure certifications for sports facility construction are up to date
• Other schools: SBH manages over 400 schools—similar opportunities may arise

What Businesses Should Watch

• Re-tendering of this contract or similar work packages from SBH
• SBH's procurement notices for other school construction projects
• Changes to procurement approach (e.g., bundling, negotiated procedures)
• EU funding programmes for school infrastructure
• Updates to DIN standards for sports facilities

GermanyTender Procurement Intelligence

This cancelled tender highlights several important lessons:

• Specialist market: Specialist construction work requires tailored procurement approaches
• Bundling matters: Small specialist work packages may not attract bidders; bundling with larger packages can improve participation
• Price-only evaluation: Price-only evaluation may not be suitable for specialist work where quality and expertise are critical
• Market engagement: Engaging with the market before procurement can help identify potential issues

The zero-bid outcome is a clear signal to SBH that the procurement approach needs to be revised. For suppliers, the cancellation presents an opportunity to engage with SBH and influence the re-tender design.

Supplier Takeaways

• Monitor for re-tendering of this contract—it is likely to return in a revised form
• Consider bidding for bundled packages that include impact wall installation
• Engage with SBH to understand their needs and procurement plans
• Maintain specialist certifications for sports facility construction
• Be prepared for price-competitive tenders, but also highlight quality and expertise
• Monitor SBH's procurement portal for future opportunities

Key Takeaways

• SBH | Schulbau Hamburg cancelled a €163,000 impact wall tender after receiving zero bids
• Part of a larger €11.7 million sports hall project at Carl-Götze-Schule
• Scope: 345 m² plywood impact wall, 240 m² acoustic perforation, doors, and fittings
• Price-only evaluation (100%)
• Zero bids received
• Cancellation reason: change in needs
• Project fully or partially EU-funded
• Procurement included Russia sanctions exclusion criteria
• Likely to be re-tendered with possible procurement adjustments

Conclusion

The cancellation of this impact wall tender represents a setback for the Carl-Götze-Schule sports hall project in Hamburg. The zero-bid outcome highlights the challenges of procuring specialist construction work packages separately from larger projects, particularly when the contract value is relatively small and the supplier pool is limited.

SBH | Schulbau Hamburg will need to revise its procurement approach to secure a contractor for this essential safety installation. Bundling the work with other packages, using a negotiated procedure, or adjusting the evaluation criteria may improve the chances of attracting bids.

For specialist construction companies, the cancellation presents an opportunity to engage with SBH and influence the design of a re-tender, ensuring that the procurement is more attractive and accessible to qualified suppliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is SBH | Schulbau Hamburg?

Ans: A public enterprise (Landesbetrieb) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg responsible for planning, constructing, and managing school properties.

Q: What was the value of the contract?

Ans: €163,000 (estimated, excluding VAT).

Q: What is the total project value?

Ans: €11,735,000 for the larger sports hall and daycare centre project.

Q: What does the contract cover?

Ans: Impact wall (Prallwand) installation, including 345 m² of plywood panels, acoustic perforation, doors, and fittings.

Q: How many bids were received?

Ans: Zero.

Q: Why was the procurement cancelled?

Ans: Due to a change in needs (Änderung des Bedarfs).

Q: What was the evaluation criterion?

Ans: Price only (100%).

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

Ans: Yes, the project is fully or partially financed with EU funds.

Q: What were the planned execution dates?

Ans: November 2026 – January 2026 (approximately 3 months).

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 549107-2026, OJ S 151/2026, published 7 August 2026.