Public works tenders from the Spanish government in Catalonia nearly doubled during the first quarter of 2026, reaching €215.28 million. This increase boosted overall operations and surpassed the Generalitat's contribution for the period.
According to a report published by the Cambra de Contractistes d'Obres de Catalunya (CCOC) on Thursday, the Spanish government's tenders represented 26.8% of the total €803.3 million tendered by all administrations. Local administrations remained the primary driver of activity, tendering 44.9% of the total. "The central government's increase stems from very low activity in previous years," the contractors stated.
Concerns Over Low Bidding Activity
The CCOC expressed concern over "low concurrency" in the bidding process. Their report shows that 38% of public works projects received only one or two bidders. The Chamber also highlighted "elevated levels" of deserted works, where no bids were submitted.
This situation arises amid economic uncertainty and rising costs. The CCOC attributes these issues to a "disconnection between tender prices and real execution costs." They urge administrations to "update prices more agilely" in tender documents to reflect current market conditions.
Key Barcelona Projects Highlighted
Several significant projects in Barcelona received tenders from the Spanish government. These include the adaptation of Terminal 2 at Barcelona Airport, valued at €53.9 million. Another major tender was for the construction of a logistics warehouse at Zal Port, amounting to €49.8 million.
Local administrations also initiated substantial projects within Barcelona. The Consorci de la Zona Franca tendered €28.8 million for a logistics project at the Port of Barcelona. Additionally, the construction of a district library and neighbourhood facility in Nou Barris received an €18 million tender.
Overall Tender Growth and Future Outlook
Overall public works tenders in Catalonia grew by 4.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. This growth rate is lower than the 12.5% increase seen in 2024, indicating a slowdown. Tenders in the first months of 2026 also fell by one-third compared to the end of 2025, marking a "sharp drop."
Moving forward, the CCOC continues to advocate for more responsive pricing mechanisms. They believe this will help ensure fair competition and successful completion of essential public works across Catalonia.
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Originally published by Ara Cat. Read original article.
