CPV 221 – Books, Brochures and Leaflets

What does CPV 221 cover?

CPV group 221 (22100000) covers public contracts for books, brochures, and leaflets – hardback and paperback books, reference works, textbooks, instructional manuals, official publications, legal commentaries, brochures, leaflets, and other bound or stapled printed publications. The group covers both the procurement of published works and the production of bespoke printed publications for public institutions.

In the public sector, books and brochures are procured by public libraries for their lending collections, by educational institutions for classroom and library use, by government departments for official publications and reference works, and by public museums and cultural institutions for visitor information and catalogues. Public health authorities procure patient information brochures, and social services produce printed guides for citizens.

Within CPV group 220, group 221 is specifically focused on bound and multi-page publications, distinguishing it from group 222 (newspapers and periodicals) and group 223 (single-sheet printed products such as posters and cards). Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Typical Services in CPV 221

• Library book acquisitions for public lending libraries and school libraries
• Textbooks and instructional materials for public educational institutions
• Official publications, legal commentaries and regulatory reference works
• Bespoke brochures and information publications for public campaigns

Examples of Tenders with CPV 221

• Annual Book Acquisition Framework for a City Library: A municipal library service tenders a framework agreement for the annual supply of fiction, non-fiction, and reference books across all branches, including cataloguing and delivery services.
• Textbook Provision for a Vocational School: A state educational authority procures textbooks, workbooks, and instructional materials for multiple subjects across a vocational college, including provision for student loans and annual updates.
• Official Publication of a State Legal Gazette: A state ministry of justice procures the production and distribution of the official state legal gazette as a printed publication, including subscription management.

Current tenders with CPV 221 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

Who is CPV 221 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Public libraries, school and university libraries, educational authorities, government ministries, public museums, cultural institutions, and public health authorities are the typical contracting authorities under CPV 221. Library procurement often involves framework agreements with specialist library supply companies.

Companies and Bidders

Publishers, library supply companies, booksellers, and print-on-demand providers can win public contracts under CPV 221. Cataloguing capabilities, delivery speed, returns handling, and for educational materials the alignment with curriculum standards 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 221?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 221)

With tender.match, publishers and library supply companies automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 221 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 book and publication 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 221)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for book and publication supply contracts, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger supply contracts requiring wide title ranges that a single company cannot cover 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 221

What does the CPV code 22100000 mean?

The CPV code 22100000 designates the group "Books, brochures and leaflets" in the Common Procurement Vocabulary. It covers the procurement of published books, instructional materials, official publications, and bespoke printed brochures and information leaflets for public institutions.

How do I find tenders with CPV 221?

Tenders with CPV 221 are published at EU level on TED and on national platforms such as DTVP.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 221?

Typical requirements include FSC or PEFC paper certification, ISO 9001 quality management, proven range breadth, cataloguing and data delivery capability (e.g. MARC21, ONIX), and delivery reliability. Details are governed by the VgV and UVgO depending on contract value.