What are CPV codes?
CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary) are a standardised classification system used across the UK and Europe for public sector contracts. Every public tender notice is assigned one or more CPV codes to describe what is being bought. Understanding them helps you find the right tenders and helps buyers find you.
How CPV codes are structured
A CPV code is an 8-digit number followed by a check digit. The digits narrow down from broad category to specific product or service:
- The first two digits indicate the major division (e.g. 72 for IT services)
- Each subsequent pair of digits narrows the category further
- The final digit (after a hyphen) is a verification character
For example:
72000000- IT services (broad)72200000- Software programming and consultancy72212000- Programming of application software (specific)
Why CPV codes matter for suppliers
When buyers publish a tender, they attach CPV codes to categorise it. Tender search platforms use these codes to match opportunities to supplier profiles. Setting up alerts based on the CPV codes relevant to your business means you will not miss notices that use different wording for the same type of work.
For example, a marketing agency might search for "marketing tenders" by keyword, but a buyer might describe the same contract as "advertising services" or "public relations services". The CPV code 79340000 (Advertising and marketing services) covers all of these.
Key CPV code divisions for UK suppliers
- 45 - Construction works
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services
- 60 - Transport services
- 71 - Architectural, engineering and consulting services
- 72 - IT services
- 73 - Research and development services
- 79 - Business services (marketing, HR, legal, accounting)
- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services
- 90 - Environmental services
How to find your CPV code
The full CPV taxonomy is maintained by the EU Publications Office. You can search for your code using the SIMAP CPV search tool at simap.ted.europa.eu/web/simap/cpv. Enter a keyword and browse the results to find the most relevant code for your services.
Most suppliers have 3 to 10 relevant CPV codes that cover the full range of contracts they could bid for.
CPV codes and TenderSignal
TenderSignal uses CPV codes alongside keyword matching to power its sector-based tender alerts. When you create a saved search, you can target specific sectors and keywords so you only receive alerts for genuinely relevant opportunities. Browse tenders by sector or set up your first alert to see it in action.