Public procurement: towards mandatory BIM in Europe? Simplebim, an asset for anticipating the new requirements

BIM enters a new phase

A study published in March 2026 for the European Commission, carried out by Altaee and the EU BIM Group, analyses the conditions for a possible introduction of BIM requirements in public procurement.

Covering six countries, including France, it highlights that large companies and the main public clients are generally more advanced than SMEs and smaller local authorities.

Its main finding: BIM success no longer depends only on design software, but on the ability to produce, structure, check and use reliable information.

Potentially stronger BIM requirements

Among the scenarios studied is a gradual BIM requirement, proportionate to the value and complexity of contracts:

• From €1 million: simplified digital coordination requirements.
• Around €5.4 million: more structured BIM requirements.
• Above €15 million and €50 million: stronger requirements for cost tracking, scheduling and asset management.

These thresholds are working assumptions, not adopted regulatory obligations.

This direction could nevertheless reinforce the need to deliver digital data that is usable, verifiable and interoperable.

The real challenge: mastering IFC data

The European report identifies several recurring difficulties: lack of standardisation, insufficiently defined information requirements, interoperability problems and a skills gap in checking BIM deliverables.

An IFC model is not necessarily a usable model.

Information may be missing, inconsistent, wrongly classified or structured differently depending on the design software.

For clients and design teams alike, it is therefore essential to be able to check objectively the quality of the data received and its compliance with project requirements.

Simplebim: turning IFC files into reliable, usable data

This is exactly where Simplebim fits in: a solution specialised in processing, enriching and checking IFC data, whatever design software was used.

In particular, Simplebim lets you:

• Check IFC quality: identify missing information, verify properties and detect inconsistencies.
• Structure and enrich data: harmonise properties, classifications and expected information.
• Automate processing: apply repeatable rules to reduce manual work.
• Prepare BIM deliverables: filter, organise and adapt information to each recipient's needs.
• Make data easier to use: prepare IFC files for quantity take-off, analysis and asset management.

Simplebim thus helps move from simply delivering a model to genuinely managing BIM data.

CADatWORK: your Simplebim partner for French-speaking countries and Spain

Partner of Datacubist and distributor of Simplebim in France and Spain, CADatWORK supports building professionals and public authorities in implementing effective openBIM processes.

Our offer combines three complementary areas of expertise:

1. Simplebim software

Advice, licence supply and support in getting started with the solution.

2. Professional training

Training for BIM managers, BIM coordinators, architects, engineering firms and clients to learn how to check, structure and automate IFC processing.

3. Services and operational support

Help defining data requirements, creating checking rules, automating processing and preparing IFC deliverables.

Anticipating tomorrow's BIM requirements today

Whether you are a public authority wanting more reliable digital models, an engineering firm looking to automate its checks or a BIM manager responsible for deliverable quality, CADatWORK and Simplebim offer practical solutions to better control your IFC data.

Discover Simplebim, our training courses and our support services with CADatWORK Learning.