Executive Summary

The Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) conducted a total of 2,976 procurements worth over 2.1 billion francs in 2025. Approximately 82 percent of the procurement volume was awarded through competitive bidding. The number of procurements declined compared to 2024 (3,082), while the total volume increased (2024: 1.9 billion francs). Key areas included national road infrastructure, construction work, and information technology and control systems. The annual report documents the transparent use of public funds by one of Switzerland's largest construction industry clients.

Persons

  • ASTRA (Federal Roads Office; contracting authority)

Topics

  • Public procurement
  • National road infrastructure
  • Transparency report
  • Competitive bidding

Clarus Lead

The increase in procurement volume of 200 million francs despite a declining number of contracts signals a shift toward larger infrastructure projects. The high competitive bidding rate of 82 percent underscores the commitment to economical fund allocation, while the focus on digitalization and national road modernization reflects the federal government's strategic investment priorities. The exclusion of third-party procurements (cantonal territorial units) demonstrates the federal complexity of infrastructure financing.

Detailed Summary

ASTRA, as one of the largest contracting authorities in civil engineering, procures a broad spectrum of services: planning and design work, construction execution, operations and safety systems, signage, and information technology services. Procurements follow statutory requirements; smaller contracts and direct awards are subject to corresponding exemption regulations.

The report does not cover procurements by third parties that operate under service agreements for national road operations (territorial units) or network completion (cantonal sites). These are typically subject to cantonal procurement law and constitute a separate financing level. The annually published transparency report serves to document and ensure accountability to the public.

Key Points

  • 2.1 billion francs procurement volume in 2025; increase of 200 million compared to 2024
  • 82 percent competitive bidding; remaining contracts awarded according to statutory provisions
  • Focus areas: national road infrastructure, construction work, digitalization, and control systems
  • Federal structure: cantonal procurements by third parties not included in the ASTRA report

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: How is comparability between 2024 and 2025 ensured when the number of contracts decreased by 106 but the volume increased by 200 million? Were thresholds or classifications adjusted?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: What controls ensure that the 18 percent of direct awards (non-competitive) comply with statutory exemption grounds and do not favor preferred suppliers?

  3. Causality: Is the volume increase attributable to inflation, larger individual projects, or changed infrastructure priorities? What factors explain the shift?

  4. Feasibility: How is coordination between ASTRA procurements and cantonal third-party procurements ensured to avoid duplication or gaps in national road supply?

  5. Transparency: Are individual contracts (recipients, amounts, projects) made publicly accessible, or is transparency limited to aggregated key figures in the annual report?

Source Directory

Primary Source: ASTRA Procurement Report 2025 – Federal Roads Office, 28.05.2026

Verification Status: ✓ 28.05.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-check: 28.05.2026