CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary) are a series of codes that make up a standardised classification system used in public procurement to match suppliers with government contracts.
Every tender published in the UK or EU uses CPV codes to describe what a government buyer needs to buy. This makes it easier for both buyers and suppliers to find the right opportunities. If you’re a supplier, getting familiar with CPV codes is one of the fastest ways to make sure you’re monitoring the tenders that fit your business.
In the UK alone, CPV codes help classify over £400 billion of public sector spending each year. Whether you're bidding for IT services, construction projects, medical equipment, or professional consulting, CPV codes sit at the heart of how government contracts are categorised and found.
If you want to make sure you're seeing the right tenders at the right time, solutions like the Stotles Platform and our Tender Tracker can help you search by CPV codes and uncover hidden opportunities. If you're new to public sector procurement, start by learning How to Find Tenders and learn how CPV codes play a key role in that process.
At first glance, a CPV code might look like a random string of numbers. In reality, every code follows a clear structure that makes it easier for buyers and suppliers to describe, find, and compare public sector opportunities.
Each CPV code is made up of up to 8 digits, built on two layers, grouped to create a hierarchy:
Each CPV code is a numeric sequence made up of eight digits plus a check digit (shown after a hyphen). The numbers form a hierarchy, moving from the broadest sector down to very specific products or services:
The more digits you include, the more specific the classification. This makes it easier for buyers to describe exactly what they need and for suppliers to quickly find relevant tenders.
You’ll see CPV codes listed on almost every government procurement notice, including:
These codes help filter search results and allow suppliers to find new opportunities in their area of expertise.
A tender could have dozens of associated CPV codes. For example, here are CPV codes associated with an open tender titled "Public Healthcare - Outsourcing DPS."
In the screenshot below, you can see that same tender for the provision of Medical Services to NHS Scotland and Health Boards.
In theory, CPV codes streamline the entire procurement process. They create a shared language for buyers and suppliers across sectors and regions. Broad categories like 72000000 (IT services) or 48000000 (software packages) help suppliers find opportunities aligned to their business, while subcategories offer more detail.
But in practice, CPV codes do not always work as intended.
Many buyers misclassify their tenders. They often select broad, catch-all categories or simply choose the wrong codes. A contract that should sit under a specific software subcategory might only be tagged at the high level, like 48, making it easy for suppliers to miss.
Take the example below. A Pipeline Notice for Jet Fuel Storage Installation.
The associated CPV code is the broad category of construction work alone.
Other, more specific relevant codes that are missing, include:
Even small issues like typos or user error can distort how tenders are indexed. This makes searching by CPV code unreliable, especially if you are targeting niche services or emerging technology categories.
This is where keyword search becomes essential. Keywords add precision, capturing opportunities that codes alone may overlook.
Stotles combines CPV codes and keyword logic to give suppliers a more accurate, complete view of active tenders. You see what matters to your business without depending on perfect classification from buyers.
CPV codes are deeply embedded in the legal framework that governs how public sector procurement operates in the UK. Every regulated procurement process requires buyers to classify their contract notices using CPV codes, which is why these codes appear in nearly every live tender.
Even as UK procurement evolves under the Procurement Act 2023, CPV codes remain a central part of the system. New models like Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) and Dynamic Markets introduce more flexible ways for suppliers to join approved lists and compete for work. However, buyers still rely on CPV codes to organise these categories and ensure transparency.
There are several official UK government procurement portals where you can search for CPV codes:
While these portals hold the source data, the current structure of public procurement portals often means you are missing tenders. Overlapping CPV codes, misclassification, inconsistent tagging, and limited keyword search functionality make it more challenging for suppliers to identify every opportunity that aligns with their business.
Because these government sites sit across different portals and don’t always allow for flexible search, many suppliers turn to tender platforms like Stotles to simplify the process.
Platforms like this combine contract data from multiple government sources into a single view. You can search by CPV code, apply keyword filters, and set up alerts to track new tenders as they’re published. This helps suppliers stay on top of relevant opportunities without having to manually monitor multiple portals each day.
Here is how you perform a CPV-code based search with Stotles.
The European Union still maintains the full CPV codes list and remains the standard used by UK buyers when publishing public tenders.
Because the list includes thousands of codes across all industries, many suppliers use a full reference list when identifying the right codes for their business or setting up search alerts.
Full CPV Codes List - Google Sheet
This version reflects the latest EU release as of 2025 and remains in active use across UK procurement systems.
When buyers assign incorrect or overly broad CPV codes, it can make tenders harder for suppliers to find. Misclassified tenders may not appear in standard CPV code searches, which is why many suppliers combine CPV code filtering with keyword searches to catch relevant opportunities.
The European Union maintains the CPV codes system through the SIMAP portal. Even after Brexit, the UK continues to use the EU-maintained version of the CPV list for procurement.
Yes. In regulated public procurement, buyers are required to assign at least one CPV code when publishing contract notices. This ensures transparency and helps suppliers identify relevant opportunities.
Buyers select CPV codes based on the goods, services, or works they are procuring. In practice, buyers may select a single code or multiple codes to reflect different aspects of the contract.
At present, there is no difference. The UK continues to use the EU-maintained CPV code list for its procurement portals, including Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.
The CPV codes list is updated periodically by the European Union. The current version in use dates from 2008, though occasional updates and corrections are applied through SIMAP.
Yes. CPV codes cover the full range of public procurement categories, including goods, services, and works. Both product suppliers and service providers use CPV codes to match with relevant tenders
Finding public sector tenders is a challenge. Even with CPV codes, suppliers still face misclassified notices, fragmented portals, and the constant risk of missing opportunities. Surfacing tenders early is critical, which is why many suppliers rely on tender alerts and innovative search tools to stay ahead.
But finding a tender is only the first step. Winning it requires a clear strategy, targeted positioning, and a consistent pipeline development approach.
That’s where many suppliers build out their full approach using platforms like Stotles. Beyond surfacing tenders, Stotles helps suppliers:
Public procurement rewards suppliers who stay organised, plan ahead, and engage early. CPV codes help you get into the right arena. Strategy and execution turn opportunities into revenue.
Book a demo or explore Stotles to see how we help suppliers win.
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