die  Ausschreibung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊsˌʃʁaɪbʊŋ/

📜 What exactly is an Ausschreibung?

Die Ausschreibung (feminine, plural: die Ausschreibungen) generally refers to the public or internal invitation to submit offers for a specific service, delivery, or position.

• In a business context: An invitation for companies to submit bids for a contract (e.g., construction project, service, supply of goods). This often happens within the framework of procurement law, especially for public contracts (öffentliche Aufträge).
• In human resources: The publication of a job vacancy (Stellenausschreibung) to attract applicants.
• Other contexts: An Ausschreibung can also be issued for competitions (e.g., art prizes, scholarships).

It is usually a formal process ⏱️ with defined rules and deadlines.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar & Declension of 'die Ausschreibung'

The word „Ausschreibung“ is a feminine noun. It takes the article die. Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Stadt hat eine neue Ausschreibung für den Bau der Brücke veröffentlicht.
   (The city published a new tender for the construction of the bridge.)
2. Die Bedingungen der Ausschreibung waren sehr detailliert.
   (The conditions of the tender were very detailed.)
3. Viele Firmen haben sich auf die Ausschreibung beworben.
   (Many companies applied for the tender/job posting.)
4. Wir prüfen gerade die eingegangenen Angebote für mehrere Ausschreibungen.
   (We are currently reviewing the received offers for several tenders/solicitations.)

💡 When to use 'Ausschreibung'?

The term „Ausschreibung“ is primarily used in formal contexts:

• Public Procurement (Öffentliches Auftragswesen): Authorities and public institutions are often legally required to publicly tender contracts above a certain value (öffentliche Ausschreibung) to ensure transparency and competition.
• Private Sector: Larger companies use tenders (Ausschreibungen) to get the best conditions from suppliers or service providers (e.g., a restricted tender - beschränkte Ausschreibung - among selected bidders).
• Recruitment (Personalbeschaffung): Companies and authorities publish job advertisements (Stellenausschreibungen) to find suitable candidates.
• Competitions & Scholarships: Organizations issue calls (Ausschreibungen) for prizes, grants, or scholarships.

In colloquial German, the word is used less frequently, unless specifically referring to a job ad or a procurement process. Alternative terms like „Angebotseinholung“ (request for quotation) or „Wettbewerb“ (competition) might be similar depending on the context but often have more specific meanings.

🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids

For the article: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of a long announcement ending with a flourish – that needs 'the' (die) definite article. So: die Ausschreibung.

For the meaning: Think of 'writing something out' (aus-schreiben) for the public or a group to see and respond to. An Ausschreibung is an 'out-writing' – a public call for offers or applications.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Be careful: Words like Angebot (offer) or Bewerbung (application) are not synonyms, but rather the response to an Ausschreibung.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: „Haben Sie die Ausschreibung für das Projekt XY schon fertig?“
Sagt der Neue: „Nein Chef, ich schreibe noch aus. Es ist ja eine Aus-schreibung!“

Translation: The boss asks the new employee: "Have you finished the tender (Ausschreibung) for project XY yet?"
The newbie replies: "No boss, I'm still writing it out (aus-schreiben). After all, it's an 'out-writing' (Aus-schreibung)!" (This is a pun on the literal components of the word).

✍️ Poem about 'Ausschreibung'

Ein Auftrag winkt, ein großes Ziel,
Doch wer ihn kriegt, das ist ein Spiel.
Die Ausschreibung, klar und rein,
Lädt Firmen nun zum Bieten ein.

Papier raschelt, Fristen drängen,
Kalkulationen, Zahlenmengen.
Wer gibt das beste Angebot ab?
Das entscheidet sich heut' knapp.

Translation:
A contract beckons, a grand goal near,
But who will get it isn't clear.
The tender notice (Ausschreibung), pure and bright,
Invites the firms to bid with might.

Paper rustles, deadlines press,
Calculations, numbers, stress.
Who submits the best offer now?
That's decided tightly, somehow.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin ein Ruf, doch ohne Stimm’,
Bin oft Papier, mal digital, ganz schlimm 😉.
Ich suche Leistung, Job, Idee,
Und bringe Anbieter zur See (von Angeboten).

Wer mich gewinnt, hat oft Glück,
Doch erst die Arbeit bringt das Meisterstück.
Man findet mich bei Stadt und Staat,
Und auch im großen Wirtschaftsapparat.

Was bin ich?

Lösung/Solution: die Ausschreibung

Translation:
I am a call, but have no voice,
Am often paper, digital by choice (sometimes awful 😉).
I seek service, job, or concept new,
And bring providers to a sea (of offers) for review.

Who wins me often counts their luck,
But only work creates the masterstroke.
You find me with the city and the state,
And in the business world, it's not too late.

What am I?

Solution: die Ausschreibung (the tender/solicitation/job posting)

🧩 Word Components & Trivia

Word Composition:

The word „Ausschreibung“ is composed of:

• Prefix aus-: indicates 'outward', 'publicly'.
• Verb stem schreib-: from the verb „schreiben“ (to write).
• Suffix -ung: forms a noun from the verb and makes it feminine.

So, it literally describes the act of 'writing out' or 'publishing' a request.

Trivia: European procurement law (Vergaberecht) has very detailed regulations for public tenders (öffentliche Ausschreibungen) to ensure fair competition. Non-compliance can lead to legal challenges and the annulment of the award procedure.