BIM Mandate in Public Procurement — Where Poland Stands and What to Expect

Is BIM mandatory in Poland? Not formally — but it is rapidly becoming a market standard. An increasing number of public tenders require BIM models, and the government is preparing regulations that could make BIM mandatory within the next few years. If you run a design office or construction firm operating in Poland, this article explains what is happening, what to expect, and how to prepare — before it is too late.

BIM mandate in public procurement in Poland — implementation roadmap and timeline

Table of contents:

Current legal framework — what does Polish law say?
The BIM Roadmap — Ministry of Development's plan
The SMART Report — accelerating digitalisation
BIM across Europe — who already requires it?
What is happening on the ground — real tenders with BIM
What this means for your firm
How to prepare — 5 steps
FAQ

Current legal framework — what does Polish law say? {#legal-framework}

Let's start with the facts. As of March 2026, Poland does not have a formal BIM mandate — that is, a statutory obligation to use BIM in public procurement. But that does not mean BIM is absent from Polish law.

The Public Procurement Law (of 11 September 2019), in Article 69 §4, provides that contracting authorities may require the use of electronic building data modelling tools (BIM) in construction works contracts or design competitions. This is a key provision — it does not mandate BIM, but it explicitly permits it and gives public contracting authorities a legal basis to require BIM from contractors.

What does this mean in practice? A public contracting authority (government office, state-owned company, local authority) can already require today that a project be delivered using BIM technology. And increasingly, they are doing exactly that.

Poland's Public Procurement Office has confirmed that "electronic modelling tools" refers to BIM tools. The provision is deliberately broad — it allows the contracting authority to require both the ability to read BIM documentation and the delivery of the entire project using BIM methodology.

The BIM Roadmap — Ministry of Development's plan {#bim-roadmap}

In 2020, the Ministry of Development (now Ministry of Development and Technology) published the "Roadmap for Implementing BIM Methodology in Public Procurement" — a strategic document setting out the stages for introducing BIM into Poland's public sector.

The roadmap envisages a phased implementation:

By 2025 — BIM required in public construction works contracts exceeding €410 million (major infrastructure projects).

By 2030 — BIM required in all public construction works contracts, regardless of value.

Alongside the roadmap, key supporting documents were developed:

BIM Standard PL (version 2.0, 2020) — a Polish handbook for preparing and delivering building projects in compliance with ISO 19650. Developed under the patronage of the Polish Construction Employers' Association (PZPB), the Polish Association of Construction Engineers and Technicians (PZITB), and the Association of Polish Architects (SARP). Positively reviewed by the Public Procurement Office.

BIM document templates — standard forms for EIR (Employer's Information Requirements), BEP (BIM Execution Plan), and other documents needed for running public projects in BIM. Publicly available via the BIM Klaster website.

In March 2022, the BIM Working Group was established at the Ministry of Development and Technology to continue work on the implementation strategy.

The SMART Report — a push for acceleration {#smart-report}

In October 2024, the Ministry of Digitalisation published the SMART Report — Smart Digital Transformation Programme for Poland, in which construction was identified as one of the key sectors for digitalisation.

The SMART Report — developed with contributions from firms including Budimex, Warbud, Mostostal and Siemens, as well as industry bodies (buildingSMART Polska, PIIB) — contains specific proposals regarding BIM:

Establishment of a BIM implementation and coordination team comprising representatives of the Ministry of Digitalisation, Ministry of Development and Technology, Ministry of Infrastructure, AI and BIM working groups, and industry organisations.

Introduction from 2026 of mandatory information requirements and BIM Level 2 models (3D models + data and file exchange) in public construction works contracts and design competitions.

Development of a long-term financial plan for 2025–2030 covering funding for education, training, IT infrastructure modernisation, and support for SMEs in adapting to the new requirements.

Introduction of data standards integrating BIM with IoT — open IFC standards, CCI classification, and Product Data Templates — by the end of 2026.

This is not wishful thinking — these are recommendations prepared by Poland's largest construction firms, backed by data and analysis. The direction is clear: BIM in public procurement is a matter of when, not if.

BIM across Europe — who already requires it? {#europe}

Poland is not operating in a vacuum. EU Directive 2014/24/EU explicitly encourages member states to adopt BIM in public procurement. Many EU countries have already introduced BIM mandates:

United Kingdom — BIM Level 2 has been mandatory for all publicly funded projects since 2016. Result: estimated 20% cost savings in public construction.

Germany — BIM mandatory from 2017 (projects over €100M), from 2020 for all infrastructure projects.

Spain — BIM required from 2018 for public projects over €2 million.

Italy — phased implementation since 2019, progressing towards a full BIM mandate in public procurement.

Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden) — BIM has been used for over a decade and is a de facto market standard.

France — implementing the Plan Numérique du Bâtiment, a phased roll-out of BIM in the public sector.

Poland is one of the last major EU countries without a formal BIM mandate. Given the regulatory pressure from Brussels, the growing number of BIM-required tenders, and the SMART report recommendations, formal regulations are a matter of the next few years.

What is happening on the ground — real tenders with BIM {#market}

Regardless of formal regulation, the market is not waiting. Public tenders with BIM requirements have been appearing in Poland since 2014 (the first being the construction of the Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek), and their number is steadily growing.

Examples of major public contracts with BIM requirements in Poland include the expansion of the Thermal Waste Treatment Plant (ZUSOK) in Warsaw, the design and construction of the Zator bypass on national road DK28 (GDDKiA — the first road project with BIM via technical dialogue), and multi-discipline design documentation for hospitals, universities, and public buildings.

Furthermore, the Autodesk/Kantar report shows dynamic BIM adoption growth in Poland: 41% of architects and designers already work in BIM, adoption among construction firms has more than doubled (from 9% to 21%), and among investors and facility managers — from 5% to 37%.

This means that even without a formal mandate, BIM is becoming the de facto market standard. Firms without BIM capabilities are losing access to a growing share of the public procurement market.

What this means for your firm {#implications}

If you run a design office, construction firm, or are a subcontractor — here is what you need to know:

Today, public contracting authorities can require BIM in their tender specifications. Lacking BIM capability means being unable to submit a bid. Every new tender with a BIM requirement is a potential contract you cannot access.

Within 2–4 years, a formal BIM mandate in public procurement will become reality. Firms that implement BIM earlier will have a competitive advantage — experience, proven processes, and a portfolio of BIM projects.

BIM implementation takes 2–4 months for a typical design office. This is not something you can do in a week when a tender appears. The sooner you start, the better prepared you will be.

BIM is not a cost — it is an investment. Our experience across more than one million square metres designed in BIM shows real savings: -40% construction errors, -25% design time, -20% project costs. More about BIM benefits →

How to prepare — 5 steps {#preparation}

You do not need to wait for formal regulations. Here are 5 steps you can take today:

1. Free BIM audit

Start with an assessment of your current state. Our free BIM audit analyses your design processes, IT infrastructure, and team competencies. You receive a PDF report with concrete recommendations and estimated ROI.

2. Revit training for your team

Autodesk Revit is the dominant BIM software on the Polish and European market. Our training programmes are based on practical experience gained across projects in 7 countries — we teach techniques that work on site.

3. Workspace configuration

Revit templates, family libraries, naming standards, CDE (Common Data Environment) configuration — this is the infrastructure without which working in BIM is chaotic and inefficient.

4. Pilot project

The best implementations start with a single project with full support. Choose a smaller project, deliver it in BIM with our assistance, and draw lessons.

5. ISO 19650 standards

Prepare documentation in compliance with the international standard: BEP (BIM Execution Plan), EIR (Employer's Information Requirements), quality control procedures. This is the language that public tenders with BIM requirements speak.

More about the BIM implementation process →

Don't wait — the market won't

A BIM mandate in public procurement is not a question of "if" but "when". Firms that implement BIM earlier will gain experience, a portfolio, and a competitive advantage that latecomers will struggle to match.

Book a free BIM audit →

60 minutes with an expert + report with recommendations. No obligations.

Frequently asked questions {#faq}

Is BIM mandatory in Poland in 2026?

BIM is not yet formally mandatory, but the Public Procurement Law (Art. 69 §4) already permits requiring BIM tools in construction tenders. The SMART report recommends introducing BIM Level 2 requirements from 2026. An increasing number of public tenders include BIM requirements — firms without BIM capabilities are losing market access.

When will BIM become mandatory in Polish public tenders?

According to the Ministry of Development's Roadmap, BIM is to be mandatory for large public projects (over €410M) by 2025, and for all public works by 2030. The SMART report recommends acceleration — a BIM Level 2 mandate from 2026.

Which EU countries already have a BIM mandate?

The UK from 2016, Germany from 2017/2020, Spain from 2018, Italy from 2019 (phased). Scandinavian countries have used BIM for over a decade. Poland is one of the last major EU countries without a formal mandate.

What is BIM Standard PL?

BIM Standard PL is a Polish handbook for delivering building projects in compliance with ISO 19650, published in 2020 under the patronage of PZPB, PZITB, and SARP. Positively reviewed by the Public Procurement Office. Publicly available as a reference for BIM projects in Poland.

How much does it cost to prepare for BIM requirements?

Typical costs: Revit licences (approx. €3,000–4,000/year/seat), training (1–3 months), CDE and template configuration. Full implementation for a 5–10 person office takes 2–4 months. A free BIM audit will help estimate costs for your firm.