CPV Codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary)

CPV codes are the EU's official classification system for public procurement, maintained by the European Commission. Each code is an 8-digit number followed by a check digit, organized into a hierarchy from division (2 digits) down to category and subcategory. For example, CPV 72000000 covers IT services broadly, while 72212000 narrows to application software programming.

Contracting authorities are required to include CPV codes in all contract notices published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily), as well as in national procurement portals. This allows suppliers to set up automated alerts and filter opportunities without reading every notice in full.

For vendors, CPV codes are the single most practical filtering tool in EU procurement. Knowing your core CPV codes — and adjacent ones where your offering fits — lets you monitor opportunities across 27 member states and the wider European Economic Area. Codes are also used by procurement analysts to benchmark spend and detect potential bid rigging. Review your CPV assignments carefully when submitting: mismatched codes can lead to exclusion at the admissibility check.