Understanding CPV Codes and Categories

What Are CPV Codes?

CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) codes are the standardised classification system used across UK and EU public procurement. Every tender notice includes at least one CPV code that describes what the buyer is purchasing.

CPV codes are 8-digit numbers organised hierarchically:

• Division (first 2 digits): Broad category, e.g. 72 = IT services
• Group (first 3 digits): Narrower, e.g. 722 = Software and consultancy
• Class (first 4 digits): e.g. 7221 = Software programming
• Category (first 5 digits): e.g. 72212 = Application software programming

How TenderSignal Uses CPV Codes

When you select sectors in your TenderSignal profile, we map those to the relevant CPV code ranges behind the scenes. This means you do not need to know specific CPV codes — just select the sectors that match your business.

However, understanding CPV codes can help you:

• Verify your profile covers the right areas. Check which CPV codes correspond to your selected sectors.
• Search more precisely when browsing tenders manually on government portals.
• Understand why certain tenders appear in your feed — the CPV code tells you how the buyer categorised their requirement.

Common CPV Divisions

Here are the most frequently used divisions in UK procurement:

Code	Category
09	Petroleum products, fuel, electricity, and energy
30	Office and computing machinery
33	Medical equipment and pharmaceuticals
34	Transport equipment
38	Laboratory and measuring instruments
39	Furniture and furnishings
42	Industrial machinery
44	Construction structures and materials
45	Construction work
48	Software packages and information systems
50	Repair and maintenance
55	Hotel, restaurant, and catering
60	Transport services
63	Supporting transport services
64	Postal and telecommunications
66	Financial and insurance services
70	Real estate services
71	Architectural and engineering services
72	IT services
73	Research and development
75	Administration, defence, and social security
77	Agricultural, forestry, and landscaping services
79	Business services
80	Education and training
85	Health and social work
90	Sewage, refuse, cleaning, and environmental
92	Recreational, cultural, and sporting services
98	Other community and personal services

Tips for Working with CPV Codes

1. Think like a buyer. How would a procurement officer describe what they need? That is likely the CPV code they will use.
2. Check related codes. Your services might fall under multiple CPV divisions. A training company could appear under 80 (Education) and 79 (Business services).
3. Monitor at the division level initially. Start broad and narrow down once you understand which specific codes generate the most relevant results.
4. Review awarded contracts. Look at how similar contracts were classified to discover CPV codes you might have missed.

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