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CPV Codes Guide
Overview
The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is a standardized classification system for public procurement in the European Union. It provides a uniform way to describe the subject matter of procurement contracts, ensuring consistency and transparency across all EU member states.
CPV codes are mandatory for all procurement notices published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) via the Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) platform.
Purpose and Benefits
CPV codes serve multiple functions in the procurement ecosystem:
- Standardization: Common terminology across all EU languages
- Transparency: Clear understanding of procurement subject matter
- Market access: Helps suppliers identify relevant opportunities
- Statistics: Enables analysis of procurement patterns
- Compliance: Required element in standard procurement forms
CPV Structure
The CPV consists of a hierarchical structure of codes with corresponding descriptions.
Main Structure
- Main vocabulary: Primary 8-digit code structure (XX000000-Y)
- Supplementary vocabulary: Optional qualifier codes (XXX-Y)
Hierarchical Levels
The main vocabulary is structured in a tree with five levels:
| Level | Description | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Divisions | XX000000-Y | 45000000-7 (Construction) |
| 2 | Groups | XXX00000-Y | 45200000-9 (Complete or part construction work) |
| 3 | Classes | XXXX0000-Y | 45210000-2 (Building construction work) |
| 4 | Categories | XXXXX000-Y | 45214000-0 (Construction work for buildings for education) |
| 5 | Subcategories | XXXXXXXX-Y | 45214220-8 (Construction work for colleges) |
The final digit (Y) is a check digit automatically calculated using the Modulo 11 algorithm.
Example: The CPV code 45214220-8 represents "Construction work for colleges" and can be broken down as:
- Division 45: Construction works
- Group 452: Complete or part construction work
- Class 4521: Building construction work
- Category 45214: Construction work for buildings for education
- Subcategory 45214220: Construction work for colleges
Main CPV Divisions
The CPV is divided into 45 main divisions:
| Division Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 03000000-1 | Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products |
| 09000000-3 | Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy |
| 14000000-1 | Mining, basic metals and related products |
| 15000000-8 | Food, beverages, tobacco and related products |
| 16000000-5 | Agricultural machinery |
| 18000000-9 | Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories |
| 19000000-6 | Leather and textile fabrics, plastic and rubber materials |
| 22000000-0 | Printed matter and related products |
| 24000000-4 | Chemical products |
| 30000000-9 | Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies |
| 31000000-6 | Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables |
| 32000000-3 | Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment |
| 33000000-0 | Medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and personal care products |
| 34000000-7 | Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation |
| 35000000-4 | Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment |
| 37000000-8 | Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials |
| 38000000-5 | Laboratory, optical and precision equipment |
| 39000000-2 | Furniture, furnishings, domestic appliances and cleaning products |
| 41000000-9 | Collected and purified water |
| 42000000-6 | Industrial machinery |
| 43000000-3 | Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment |
| 44000000-0 | Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction |
| 45000000-7 | Construction work |
| 48000000-8 | Software packages and information systems |
| 50000000-5 | Repair and maintenance services |
| 51000000-9 | Installation services |
| 55000000-0 | Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services |
| 60000000-8 | Transport services |
| 63000000-9 | Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services |
| 64000000-6 | Postal and telecommunications services |
| 65000000-3 | Public utilities |
| 66000000-0 | Financial and insurance services |
| 70000000-1 | Real estate services |
| 71000000-8 | Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services |
| 72000000-5 | IT services |
| 73000000-2 | Research and development services |
| 75000000-6 | Administration, defence and social security services |
| 76000000-3 | Services related to the oil and gas industry |
| 77000000-0 | Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services |
| 79000000-4 | Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security |
| 80000000-4 | Education and training services |
| 85000000-9 | Health and social work services |
| 90000000-7 | Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services |
| 92000000-1 | Recreational, cultural and sporting services |
| 98000000-3 | Other community, social and personal services |
Using CPV Codes
For Contracting Authorities
When preparing procurement documents, contracting authorities should:
- Identify the main subject of the procurement
- Find the closest matching CPV code, starting with divisions and moving down the hierarchy
- Use the most specific code possible (lowest level applicable)
- Add secondary codes if the contract covers multiple categories
- Consider supplementary vocabulary for additional qualifications
Example: For procuring "IT security consulting services", the appropriate codes might be:
- Main code: 72810000-1 (Computer security audit services)
- Secondary code: 79417000-0 (Security consultancy services)
For Suppliers
Suppliers can use CPV codes to:
- Search for opportunities in specific product/service areas
- Set up alerts for relevant TED notices
- Understand the precise requirements of contracting authorities
- Track market trends in their sector
Supplementary Vocabulary
The supplementary vocabulary provides additional qualifications and details about the nature of the goods, services, or works being procured.
Structure
- Section 1: Qualities and characteristics (codes A to Q)
- Section 2: Additional information about users and beneficiaries (codes R to S)
- Section 3: Secondary aspects related to context (codes T to U)
Each supplementary code consists of an alphabetic letter followed by four digits and a check digit.
Example: A code like "MC04-8" (Made of stainless steel) can qualify a main CPV code to specify the material.
CPV in Procurement Documents
CPV codes appear in multiple places throughout the procurement process:
- Prior Information Notices: Indicating intended procurements
- Contract Notices: Specifying the subject matter of the procurement
- Contract Award Notices: Reporting what was actually procured
- Technical Specifications: Providing more detail on requirements
- Procurement Plans: Planning future procurement activities
Finding and Selecting CPV Codes
Several tools are available to assist in finding appropriate CPV codes:
Best practices for selecting CPV codes:
- Start with keywords related to your procurement subject
- Browse the hierarchy from divisions downward
- Consider the purpose rather than just the product description
- Check previous similar contracts for precedents
- Review search results in TED with candidate codes
References and Resources
For detailed information on CPV codes, consult these official resources: