What Are CPV Codes?

What Is the CPV?

The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is a standardised classification system used across UK and European public procurement. Every contract notice published on Find a Tender or Contracts Finder includes at least one CPV code, making it possible to search for opportunities by sector rather than relying on keyword matching alone.

The 8-Digit Hierarchy

CPV codes are 8 digits long, structured from broad to specific:

• Division (first 2 digits) — the broadest category, e.g. 45 = Construction work
• Group (first 3 digits) — narrows the sector, e.g. 453 = Building installation work
• Class (first 4 digits) — more specific, e.g. 4531 = Electrical installation work
• Category (first 5 digits) — detailed sub-category
• Remaining digits provide further granularity, with a check digit at position 9

Why CPV Codes Matter

Using CPV codes to find contracts has several advantages over keyword-only search:

• Consistent classification — the same code is used regardless of how the buyer describes the work
• No missed results — keywords miss contracts that use different terminology for the same service
• Alert precision — set up email alerts by CPV code to receive relevant opportunities without noise

Searching by CPV on TenderTracker

TenderTracker lets you browse all CPV divisions to see live contract counts by category. You can also filter search results by CPV code or set up email alerts for specific codes so you never miss a relevant opportunity.