What Is a CPV Code? Supplier Guide

CPV codes are the classification system used across UK and EU public procurement. Here's what you need to know.

CPV Codes Explained

CPV stands for Common Procurement Vocabulary. It's a standardised classification system used across UK and EU public procurement to categorise the subject of contracts. Every tender notice published on Contracts Finder, Find a Tender, or TED includes one or more CPV codes.

Understanding CPV codes matters because they're how buyers describe what they're buying — and how you, as a supplier, can find contracts relevant to your business.

How CPV Codes Work

A CPV code is an 8-digit number followed by a check digit. The structure is hierarchical:

• First 2 digits: Division (broad category)
• First 3 digits: Group
• First 4 digits: Class
• First 5 digits: Category
• All 8 digits: Specific item or service

For example:

• 72000000 — IT services (division level)
• 72200000 — Software programming and consultancy
• 72212000 — Programming services of application software
• 72212517 — IT software development services

The more digits you specify, the narrower the category becomes.

Why CPV Codes Matter

When a public body publishes a tender, they assign CPV codes to describe the goods, services, or works they need. These codes are used by:

• Procurement portals to categorise and filter notices
• Suppliers to set up alerts and find relevant opportunities
• Monitoring tools like TenderSignal to match contracts to your business profile

If you're not tracking the right CPV codes, you'll miss contracts — even if you're perfectly qualified to deliver them.

Finding Your CPV Codes

The best way to find relevant codes is to:

1. Start with the official CPV list. The EU maintains the full vocabulary at SIMAP. Search by keyword to find codes that match your services.

2. Look at past contracts. Find awarded contracts similar to what you deliver and note which CPV codes were used. Buyers in the same sector tend to use consistent codes.

3. Think broadly. A marketing agency might need to track codes under 79340000 (Advertising and marketing), 79416000 (Public relations), and 72413000 (Website design). Don't limit yourself to a single code.

4. Check both main and supplementary codes. Tender notices often include a main CPV code plus supplementary codes that cover additional aspects of the requirement.

Common CPV Code Divisions

Here are some of the most frequently used divisions:

Division	Description
45	Construction work
50	Repair and maintenance
55	Hotel, restaurant and retail trade
71	Architectural, engineering and planning
72	IT services
73	Research and development
79	Business services (legal, marketing, consulting)
80	Education and training
85	Health and social work
90	Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental

Setting Up CPV-Based Alerts

Most procurement portals allow you to set alerts based on CPV codes. The challenge is that different portals handle this differently:

• Contracts Finder uses broad categories rather than specific CPV codes
• Find a Tender allows CPV-based filtering
• TED provides full CPV search capability

TenderSignal maps all of these into a unified category system, so you set your sectors once and receive matched opportunities regardless of which portal published them.

Tips for Getting CPV Codes Right

• Cast a wide net initially. Start with division-level codes (first 2 digits) and refine once you see what comes through.
• Review regularly. Your business evolves, and so should your CPV tracking. New service lines mean new codes.
• Don't rely on a single code. Most businesses span multiple CPV categories. A facilities management company might need codes from divisions 50 (maintenance), 90 (cleaning), and 77 (landscaping).
• Check the buyer's perspective. Sometimes a contract you could deliver is classified under a code you wouldn't expect. Look at how similar contracts have been categorised historically.

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