CPV 220 – Printed Matter

What does CPV 220 cover?

CPV group 220 (22000000) covers public contracts for printed matter – the parent group encompassing all printed products procured by public authorities, including books, brochures, journals, newspapers, official forms, labels, postage stamps, security printing, printing inks, and office paper articles. The group brings together the full range of printed goods required across public administration.

In the public sector, printed matter is procured by virtually every type of authority and institution. Central government departments require official forms, letterheads, and legal publications. Municipal administrations need printed permits, certificates, and information materials. Public libraries procure books and periodicals. Educational institutions purchase instructional materials and textbooks. Public health authorities require printed patient information, prescription forms, and administrative documents.

Within CPV division 22, group 220 serves as the overarching parent group with sub-groups covering specific categories: books and brochures (221), newspapers and journals (222), promotional printed goods (223), stamps and security printing (224), printing media (225), printing inks (226), office paper articles (228), and miscellaneous printed products (229). Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Typical Services in CPV 220

• Official forms, letterheads and printed stationery for public administration
• Books, brochures and information publications for public institutions
• Labels, tickets and access documentation for public services
• Printing inks, toner and printing media for in-house print operations

Examples of Tenders with CPV 220

• Comprehensive Printed Materials Framework for a Federal Authority: A federal ministry tenders a multi-year framework agreement covering the full range of printed matter requirements including forms, publications, labels, and stationery across all departments.
• Printed Information Materials for a Public Health Campaign: A regional public health authority procures printed brochures, posters, flyers, and information leaflets for a preventive health awareness campaign.
• Official Forms and Certificates for a Registry Office: A municipal registry office procures pre-printed official forms, birth certificate stock, and security-printed document blanks for civil registration purposes.

Current tenders with CPV 220 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

Who is CPV 220 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Federal and state ministries, municipal administrations, public educational institutions, libraries, public health authorities, registry offices, and all other public institutions with regular printed matter requirements are typical contracting authorities under CPV 220. Demand is continuous and covers a wide range of product types.

Companies and Bidders

Printing companies, publishers, office supply distributors, and security printers can win public contracts under CPV 220. Quality management certifications (ISO 9001), environmental certifications (FSC, Blue Angel), delivery reliability, and for security items the relevant specialist accreditations are typical requirements. Information on eligibility requirements and procurement procedures is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 220?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 220)

With tender.match, printing companies and office supply distributors automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 220 directly in their dashboard. BOND indexes tenders from over 1,000 procurement portals in the EU – from TED to national platforms and regional contracting authorities. Instead of manually searching dozens of portals every day, matching printed matter supply contracts are filtered and delivered by industry, competency, region, and company profile. An automated gap analysis immediately shows where the company meets the requirements and where gaps exist. This ensures companies never miss a deadline and can focus on preparing their bids.

Company Match – Find the Right Partners and Suppliers (CPV 220)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for printed matter contracts, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger printed matter supply contracts that a single company cannot handle alone, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for bidding consortia and partial services – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 220

What does the CPV code 22000000 mean?

The CPV code 22000000 designates the group "Printed matter" in the Common Procurement Vocabulary. It covers the full range of printed products procured by public authorities, from books and journals to official forms, labels, security printing, and office paper articles.

How do I find tenders with CPV 220?

Tenders with CPV 220 are published at EU level on TED and on national platforms such as DTVP.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 220?

Typical requirements include ISO 9001 certification, FSC or PEFC certification for paper-based products, REACH compliance for printing inks, and for security printing the relevant specialist accreditations. Details are governed by the VgV and UVgO depending on contract value.