A CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) code is a standardised numeric code that classifies what a public tender is buying. Contracting authorities across the EU use the same codes, so searching by CPV finds relevant tenders regardless of language or wording.
CPV codes are eight digits plus a check digit and are hierarchical: the first two digits identify a broad division (for example 45 for construction or 72 for IT services), and further digits narrow the classification. Because they are language-independent and consistent across buyers, CPV codes are the most reliable way to search and set up alerts for tenders.