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. Den stegvisa metoden hittar du i vår guide CPV-koder förklarade (på engelska).
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.
In practice you need a list rather than a single code. Most suppliers use three tiers: specific codes for what they unambiguously deliver, adjacent codes for work they could credibly take on, and one or two two-digit divisions as a wide safety net for tenders a buyer classified unexpectedly. Coverage is high, the large majority of active tenders carry a code, but classification is done by the buyer and is not always accurate, which is exactly why the division-level tier is worth the extra noise it produces.
