DPGF, BPU, DQE: the financial pieces of a French tender.
The financial vocabulary of French public construction tenders intimidates many firms new to bid response. DPGF, BPU, DQE: these three acronyms refer to very different documents, and confusing them leads to pricing errors, irregular bids, and even loss of the contract.
Below is, in 9 minutes, the difference between the three, how to read them, how to fill them without errors, and how AI in 2026 speeds up their handling for construction SMEs. Note: these three pieces are French market-specific concepts; we keep the original acronyms throughout for clarity.
The three pieces in one minute.
Acronym · Definition
DPGF
Décomposition du Prix Global et Forfaitaire (Decomposition of the Global Lump-Sum Price). The table that breaks down the global price of a lump-sum market, line by line (item by item). The DPGF total equals the contract amount. If you win, you bill the lump sum, regardless of real variations.
Bordereau des Prix Unitaires (Schedule of Unit Prices). The list of unit prices proposed by the firm for each type of service (e.g.: €75/m² of BA13 partition). No quantity is fixed at contract signature. Used in call-off (framework) markets.
Market type:Call-offQuantities:VariablePayment:Per actual
Acronym · Definition
DQE
Détail Quantitatif Estimatif (Estimated Quantitative Detail). Companion to the BPU in a call-off market. The client provides forecast quantities only to allow comparison of bids. The DQE total commits no one on the actual volumes that will be ordered.
The majority of French public construction markets are global lump-sum: building a school, renovating a hospital, insulating a building. The client knows the work, fixes the quantities and asks for a single lump-sum price. The DPGF is the table detailing how this lump sum breaks down, line by line. Purpose: enable technical comparison of bids, and serve as a basis for variation orders.
BPU + DQE — Call-off markets
For markets where volumes are uncertain: facilities maintenance, local authority multi-trade contracts, 4-year framework agreement for school repairs in a city. The client doesn't know how much they will order, can't fix a global price. They publish a BPU (the unit prices) and a DQE (the forecast quantities), and sign with the firm offering the best DQE. But they don't commit on real quantities: they order on demand via call-offs, billed at BPU prices.
"On a 4-year BPU/DQE, you can aim low on 2-3 'DQE-driver' items to win the market, and recover on items barely represented in the DQE but often ordered in real life. That's the art of reading the DQE between the lines." — Estimating lead, maintenance contractor, 2026.
How to read a DPGF without errors.
Mandatory checks before pricing line by line:
01.Check the contractual character of the DPGF in the contract conditions. If yes, your unit prices become reference for variation orders. Don't underprice them just to win.
02.Check the unit of each line. Classic mistake: lm (linear meter) confused with m². That divides an item by 100 on certain lines.
03.Cross-check with the technical specifications for every ambiguous line. The DPGF says "BA13 partition", but the spec requires "moisture-resistant BA13 with 70 mm mineral wool": the ratio changes.
04.Identify "no object" or "for memory" lines. Some lines must not be priced, just marked PM. If you put €0 on a PM line, your bid can be rejected.
05.Cross-check the total with the DQE (if it exists). A cell entry error can swing the total by €30K and cross the competitive threshold.
06.Check unit-price consistency across lots. If you price the same item at 3 different prices in 3 lots, the client will see disorder.
Common mistakes to avoid.
a. Modifying DPGF quantities
Strong temptation when you suspect a quantity is wrong. Forbidden in a public market. If you spot an error, ask a question during the Q&A phase, or add a margin note without changing the figures. Unilateral modification = irregular bid, ruled out automatically.
b. Pricing an item at €0
Even an item you include for free in another must have a price > 0. The right reflex is to put €1 or explicitly state "included in item X.Y". A €0 is often interpreted as an error or an abnormally low bid.
c. Not filling a line
Every line of the DPGF must be filled. An empty cell = irregular bid. Even "for memory" lines must carry the mention PM or 0.00 according to what the bid rules specify.
d. Ignoring options
Many tender files require pricing of options or variants (optional or sometimes mandatory variants). Always check the bid rules. An unpriced option can lead to exclusion.
e. VAT error
Not all public construction markets have the same VAT: 20% standard, 10% housing renovation, 5.5% energy efficiency improvement. The DPGF is excl. tax. The bid form and the general total must apply the right VAT rate.
AI to speed up handling.
In 2026, AI cuts DPGF handling time from 2-4 hours to 30-60 minutes, by automating the repetitive tasks. Concretely:
01.Extraction of the DPGF in clean Excel. AI reads the DPGF (often delivered as PDF with complex layout) and outputs an Excel with one line per item, the right units, the right quantities. Accuracy > 95% in 2026.
02.Automatic ratio application. AI knows the firm's ratios (cf. tender pricing with AI) and pre-fills unit prices on standard items.
04.Cross-check with the technical specifications. AI can verify a "BA13 partition" line in the DPGF actually matches the spec requirements (moisture-resistant BA13, 70 mm mineral wool, etc.) and alert on differences.
05.DQE response preparation. On a call-off market, AI can analyse forecast quantities and advise on items where commercial aggressiveness pays off.
These 5 tasks used to consume 50-70% of pricing time. Freed up, they let the estimator focus on critical items: supplier calls on special mechanical, non-standard materials, particular installation constraints.
Going further.
Complementary articles on tender financial pieces and bid response:
The DPGF (Decomposition of the Global Lump-Sum Price) details prices in a global lump-sum market. The BPU (Schedule of Unit Prices) lists unit prices in a call-off market, with no fixed quantity. The DQE (Estimated Quantitative Detail) estimates the total of a call-off market based on forecast quantities. DPGF = lump-sum, BPU+DQE = call-off.
Is the DPGF contractual?
Yes, in most French public construction markets, the DPGF is a contractual piece. This means its unit prices can be invoked in case of variation orders or extra works. It's different in private markets where the DPGF is often informational only. Check the article of the contract conditions that specifies the contractual character.
Can you change the DPGF quantities during pricing?
No. DPGF quantities are imposed by the client. If you believe a quantity is wrong, you must flag it via a question during the Q&A phase, or add a clear note in your technical memo. Unilaterally changing the quantities = irregular bid, ruled out.
How can AI help with the DPGF?
AI in 2026 does 4 useful tasks: (1) extraction of the DPGF from a tender PDF into structured Excel in 2 minutes, (2) automatic application of the firm's trade ratios to pre-price standard items, (3) detection of inconsistencies (units, aberrant quantities), (4) flagging of items to price manually (specific materials).
What if a DPGF line is inconsistent with the technical specifications?
Always respect what the DPGF says (it is the prevailing piece on the financial side). If a line seems missing or different from the specs, ask a written question to the client during the Q&A phase scheduled by the bid rules. Keep written record of the client's reply, which becomes binding.
Do you have to fill every DPGF line?
Yes, systematically. Even "for memory" lines (PM) must carry the mention required by the bid rules. An empty cell triggers bid rejection. If a service is included in another item, put €1 or state "included in item X.Y".