Mönchengladbach: Procurement, Contracts and Approvals – Focus on Transparency and Sustainability

Transparency and Sustainability in Focus: Procurement in Mönchengladbach

In February 2026, Mönchengladbach engaged intensively with topics such as procurement, contracts and approvals. The city is not only searching for efficient processes, but also for sustainable solutions that include ecological and economic criteria. Particularly the project New Administrative Building Rheydt (NVR) is central here – both in terms of investment planning and the concrete implementation by the Public Service-Like Entity (EäE) NVR.

Project NVR: Transparent Reports and Clear Planning

The EäE NVR publishes quarterly detailed interim reports in accordance with § 13 (4) of the Company Regulation and § 20 of the North Rhine-Westphalia Public Service Entity Ordinance. These reports not only provide an overview of the financial development, but also of the current status of procurements. Particularly notable is that the EäE NVR will voluntarily provide information on the status and implementation of the project in the future – a measure that strengthens transparency and trust in the administration.

As part of the NVR project, several procurement procedures are underway, including planning services, construction work and compensatory measures. The total costs of the planned procurements amount to 73,995,313.42 €, with 85.32 % of the procedures being carried out nationally and 14.68 % across the EU. A procurement schedule shows the order of planned procedures and their estimated net values. Some of these procedures are not yet completed, and possible changes due to construction progress or planning changes are mentioned.

Sustainability in Procurement: New Criteria for Municipal Contracts

Another central aspect of the February discussions was the debate on sustainable procurement. The factional motion by the Greens "Acting Sustainably – Municipal Contracts Based on Clear Quality Criteria" demanded that public contracts below the EU threshold be awarded according to clear, transparent criteria. In this context, life cycle costs, durability, energy and resource efficiency, and recyclability are to be taken into account.

Mönchengladbach has already taken first steps in this direction. With the entry into force of the NRW Act amending local government regulations from 1 January 2026, municipalities have the right to set their own procurement rules. The city plans to establish transparent principles and criteria for below-threshold procurements and evaluate them annually. The aim is to integrate long-term economic viability and sustainability into the procurement chain.

Committee Work and Urgent Decisions

The Committee for Companies and Procurement met several times in February, including on 18.02.2026 and 21.01.2026. The agenda included, among other things:

• The extraordinary termination of the cleaning contract with the company Th. Kramer Gebäudereinigung GmbH,
• the approval of urgent decisions, such as the procurement of a temporary bridge on Theodor-Heuss-Straße,
• the procurement of parking meters and Smart Car Counters,
• and the delivery of field beds for emergency shelters.

These decisions show how flexible and responsive the city administration can be when there is an urgent need for action.

Outlook: Sustainability and Transparency as Central Guidelines

The February discussions in Mönchengladbach show a clear trend: The city wants to act not only efficiently, but also sustainably and transparently. In particular, in procurement and the awarding of contracts, Mönchengladbach is relying on clear criteria that take into account ecological and economic aspects. This approach fits into the broader discussion on sustainable urban development and responsible financial management.

In the future, it will be important to monitor the implementation of the new procurement criteria and ensure that they work in practice. At the same time, the NVR project remains a central focus, the success of which also depends on the transparency and planning security of the procurements.