RDL 7/2026: The Government Activates Price Revision (But Watch the Fine Print)
The urgent mechanism to save public works has been approved. We explain in 3 minutes which materials are covered, how to request it, and where the 20% trap lies.
Good afternoon.
It was an open secret, but now it's official. The Council of Ministers has approved Royal Decree-Law 7/2026.
The goal: to avoid a total paralysis of public works in Spain. The reality: a necessary lifesaver, yes... but one that might fall short before hitting the water.
If you have an active public contract, pay attention. We are gambling the year's margin in the following paragraphs.
TL;DR — What You Need to Know NOW
- What is it? An exceptional mechanism to revise prices in public contracts already awarded.
- The requirement? That the extra cost of "protected" materials exceeds 5% of the certified amount.
- The limit? The revision cannot exceed 20% of the award price. (And here... lies the problem).
The 4 "Chosen" Materials
Not everything goes. The decree specifically shields four families of materials. If your cost overrun comes from here, you are covered. If it comes from wood or glass... (Pause) you'll have to fight for it another way.
| Material | Current Status | Covered? | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Steel (Structural, reinforcement) | +21% 🔺 | ✅ YES | | Bituminous (Asphalt, mixes) | +25% 🔺 | ✅ YES | | Aluminum (Profiles, carpentry) | +39% 🔺 | ✅ YES | | Copper (Installations) | +18% 🔺 | ✅ YES |
Attention: PVC, petroleum-derived insulation, and energy costs are NOT included in the automatic formula. — An oversight that could cost you dearly.
The 20% Ceiling: Enough or a Patch?
Here is where the associations (CNC and SEOPAN) have raised their hand. And rightly so.
The decree sets a cap: no one will collect more than 20% extra on the original price. But do the math. If aluminum has gone up 40% and freight 60%... in works with a heavy load of installations or steel structures, the real cost overrun can touch 30%.
What happens to that 10% difference? — You assume it. The Government puts up the shield, but the bullets that go over it... are paid for by the contractor.
How to Request It (Without Getting Rejected)
It is not automatic. You have to ask for it. And the Administration does not trust your word; it trusts the papers.
1. Calculate the 5% threshold: You have to prove that you have already exceeded that cost overrun. 2. Document the deviation: Invoice against budget. Item by item. 3. Submit the request: Addressed to the contracting authority.
Understanding the decree is the easy part. Proving your case is not. Invoice against budget, line by line, material by material — for every project, every certified period. If that data lives in your head, a spreadsheet, or a folder of photos with no dates... the claim will arrive late, incomplete, or not at all.
The Administration will ask for proof
To activate RDL 7/2026, it's not enough to say "everything went up". You need a detailed report of actual costs.
OBRATEC automatically records materials and costs at each visit. When they ask for justification, you'll have it ready in a click, not in three weeks of Excel.
Our Opinion
It is a welcome measure. Essential. — But it comes with a "but". The 20% ceiling is a risky bet in a market where the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
My advice: request it now. Don't wait to see if prices drop, because the ships circling Africa... are in no hurry.
Want to know the origin of this chaos? Read the full analysis: Why steel is up 21% and aluminum 39%.