CPV
What is common procurement vocabulary?
Created
November 17, 2025
by Connor
Last updated
March 13, 2026
Summary
The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is a standard set of codes used to classify the subject matter of public contracts and tenders in a consistent way. The European Union developed CPV so contracting authorities can describe what they are buying using the same labels across countries and sectors. CPV uses an eight-digit main code (with an optional check digit) and can be paired with supplementary terms for extra detail. For suppliers, CPV codes help you find relevant opportunities, understand how a tender is categorised, and improve filtering and reporting when tracking bids.
In this article
The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is a standard set of codes used to classify the subject matter of public contracts and tenders in a consistent way. The European Union developed CPV so contracting authorities can describe what they are buying using the same labels across countries and sectors. CPV uses an eight-digit main code (with an optional check digit) and can be paired with supplementary terms for extra detail. For suppliers, CPV codes help you find relevant opportunities, understand how a tender is categorised, and improve filtering and reporting when tracking bids.
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