CPV Codes: Definition and Tender Search Guide

If you have ever searched for public tenders and found yourself lost among hundreds of notices that do not match your activity, you need to thoroughly understand CPV codes. This European numerical classification is the key to filtering out the noise and finding relevant business opportunities without wasting hours reviewing irrelevant documentation.

In this article, we explain what they are, how they work, and, most importantly, how to use them strategically in your searches so you don't depend on the contracting authority having assigned them correctly.

What Are CPV Codes?

CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary) are a unique and standardized classification system used in public procurement within the European Union. Their objective is to unify the references used by contracting authorities to describe the subject matter of contracts.

This system was established by Regulation (EC) No 2195/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Its main utility is to allow a company from any member country to identify tenders of interest without needing to know the language or specific terminology of each administration.

To understand its function in Spain, a parallel can be drawn with CNAE codes (similar to NACE codes). While the CNAE catalogs your company's economic activity for statistical and tax purposes, the CPV catalogs what the administration is buying in each contract.

Structure of CPV Codes: How Do the Classification Digits Work?

CPV codes consist of a hierarchical structure of up to 9 digits that allows the subject of a contract to be detailed with great precision. The more numbers the code has, the more specific the classification.

To help you visualize it better, here is the breakdown of a real example in the construction sector:

The ninth digit (the one following the hyphen) is a check digit that ensures the integrity of the data.

Why is understanding this structure important?

The more specific the CPV code you use in your searches, the more precise the results will be. However, as we will see later, in Spain many administrations use generic codes (only at the "Division" or "Group" level), so searching solely with 8-digit codes may cause you to miss opportunities that have been classified generally.

You can explore the complete code tree on the official SIMAP website of the European Union.

How to Search for Public Tenders by CPV Code

Searching by CPV codes is one of the most direct ways to find opportunities in the public sector, provided it is done strategically.

How to Identify Which CPV Code Corresponds to Your Activity?

Many tenderers make the mistake of choosing a single code. To correctly identify your entire spectrum of opportunities:

1. Start from your CNAE activity: If your activity is electrical installations (CNAE 4321), search the official CPV vocabulary for related terms such as "installation," "wiring," or "electricity."
2. Analyze previous awards: Review contracts that have already been awarded in your sector through the Public Sector Contracting Platform. What CPV codes did the contracting authorities use? You will often be surprised to see they do not use the one you thought.
3. Do not limit yourself to a single code: A cleaning company, for example, should monitor several fronts:
   • 90900000-6 (Cleaning services).
   • 90910000-9 (Building cleaning services).
   • 90919200-4 (Office cleaning services).
4. Use reverse search tools: Enter your business keywords into advanced search engines to see which codes are usually associated with them.

The Problem of Incorrect Classifications in Spain

Although the CPV is the official standard, its practical application by Spanish contracting authorities presents challenges that can cost you contracts.

According to our massive data analysis on tenders published in the last year:

• 18% of the notices do not include any CPV code or it is illegible.
• 34% use excessively generic codes (stopping at the first 2 or 3 digits), which makes segmentation difficult.
• 7% assign clearly erroneous codes.

Example of a real case:

Imagine a tender for "Digital transformation consultancy services." The correct approach would be to use a specific code like 72224000-1 (Project management consultancy services). However, many administrations classify it under the generic 72000000-5 (IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support).

The practical implication: If your company only has alerts configured for the specific consultancy code, you will never find out about that opportunity.

That is why at Tendios we recommend and apply a hybrid strategy: our AI algorithms not only look at the CPV but also read and interpret the content of the procurement documents (pliegos) to understand the real subject matter of the contract, regardless of how the official labeled it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About CPV Codes

Can I use more than one CPV code in my tender search?

Yes, it is highly recommended. Set up alerts with all CPV codes relevant to your activity (main and secondary) to avoid missing opportunities.

Are CPV codes mandatory in all Spanish tenders?

Legally yes, according to the LCSP (Law on Public Sector Contracts), but in practice, many contract notices do not include them or use generic codes. That is why we recommend combining searches by CPV + keywords.

What should I do if my activity does not have a specific CPV code?

Use the closest code within the hierarchy and complement it with keyword searches. CPV codes do not always cover innovative or highly specialized services.

Download the List of Most Used CPV Codes

To make the task easier for you, we have compiled the most frequent codes grouped by sectors (construction, services, technological supplies, cleaning, etc.).

Stop Losing Tenders Due to Incorrect Classifications

Don't let an administrative error leave you out of the game. Tendios combines searching by CPV codes with keywords and semantic analysis via AI to find 100% of the opportunities in your sector, even those labeled incorrectly.