In the world of public procurement, precision and clarity are of utmost importance. One of the key tools that ensures this precision is CPV codes. These codes, part of the Common Procurement Vocabulary, enable standardization and facilitate the search for tenders across the European Union. In this blog post, we will explain in detail what CPV codes are, what they are used for, how they are structured, and their limitations.

1. What are CPV Codes?

CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) is a standardized classification system whose primary goal is to unify the designations and descriptions of procurement objects. This system consists of a main vocabulary and a supplementary vocabulary, providing a comprehensive framework for categorizing goods, services, and works in the context of public procurement [4].

CPV codes act like a universal "language" for public procurement, facilitating communication between contracting authorities and bidders across different EU countries.

2. What are they used for?

The main benefit of CPV codes lies in their ability to enable the identification of tenders in any European Union country without the need for translation, which can sometimes be imprecise. Imagine a situation where you need to find a tender for supplying tomato seeds in Greece, and you don't know what it's called in Greek. Thanks to the hierarchical structure of CPV codes, which consists of up to nine digits divided into sections, divisions, groups, and classes, finding such information is significantly easier [4].

In addition to facilitating searches, CPV codes contribute to the transparency and efficiency of the public procurement process because they:

Help contracting authorities precisely define their needs
Make it easier for bidders to find relevant tenders
Reduce the possibility of errors and ambiguities in the process

3. Structure of the Common Procurement Vocabulary

The CPV consists of a main vocabulary and a supplementary vocabulary. The numerical code of the main vocabulary consists of up to nine digits, hierarchically divided as follows [4]:

First two digits: Indicate divisions (XX000000-Y)
First three digits: Indicate groups (XXX00000-Y)
First four digits: Indicate classes (XXXX0000-Y)
First five digits: Indicate categories (XXXXX000-Y)

Each of the last three digits in the main vocabulary provides a more precise designation within each category, while the ninth digit serves as a check digit.

For example:
Code 09111100-1 indicates coal within the fuels group.

The supplementary vocabulary expands the description of procurement subjects with alphanumeric codes that provide additional detail about specific types or destinations.

4. Usage and Limitations

CPV codes are essential for efficiently tracking and participating in public tenders, but there are some limitations:

It can sometimes be challenging to find the perfect code for very specific procurement items.
Contracting authorities often combine CPV codes with detailed textual descriptions for clarity.
Bidders are advised to use both CPV code filtering and keyword searches to avoid missing relevant opportunities.

Many public procurement platforms allow filtering tenders by CPV codes, greatly speeding up the search process.

5. Conclusion

Understanding and correctly using CPV codes significantly increases your chances of finding the right tenders and preparing quality bids. The CPV system helps everyone involved in public procurement communicate clearly, precisely, and without misunderstandings.

Therefore, if you want to succeed in public tenders, make it a habit to regularly monitor and use CPV codes – it will give you a competitive edge.

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Common Procurement Vocabulary – How to Understand and Use CPV Codes