CPV 224 – Stamps, Cheque Forms, Banknotes, Securities and Advertising Material

What does CPV 224 cover?

CPV group 224 (22400000) covers public contracts for stamps, cheque forms, banknotes, securities, advertising material, and catalogues – postage stamps, official stamps and seals, cheque and payment forms, official certificates and document blanks, securities, advertising catalogues, product catalogues, price lists, and similar high-value or security-relevant printed materials.

In the public sector, this group covers a wide range of security-printed and officially validated documents. National postal authorities and transport operators procure postage stamps and prepaid envelopes. Central banks and financial authorities procure banknotes and official securities. Government departments produce official certificates, identity document blanks, and official stamps. Public utilities and transport companies produce ticketing materials, vouchers, and season ticket stocks. Local authorities procure parking permit stocks, official seals, and authorisation documents.

Within CPV group 220, group 224 stands apart from other printed matter groups due to the security requirements, official validity, and anti-counterfeiting demands of many products in this category. It is distinguished from group 229 (miscellaneous labels and tickets) by the higher security standards typically applicable. Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Typical Services in CPV 224

• Postage stamps and prepaid postal products for national postal authorities
• Official document blanks and certificate stock for government registration offices
• Public transport tickets, season ticket stock and travel vouchers
• Advertising and product catalogues for public utilities and services

Examples of Tenders with CPV 224

• Postage Stamp Production for a National Postal Authority: A national postal service tenders the design and production of commemorative and definitive postage stamps, including specialist security printing with holographic and UV features.
• Official Certificate Blanks for a Registration Authority: A state civil registration authority procures pre-printed security certificate blanks for birth, marriage, and death certificates with watermark paper, sequential numbering, and guilloche background printing.
• Advertising Catalogues for a Municipal Utility: A municipal utility company procures printed product catalogues and tariff brochures for distribution to residential and commercial customers as part of an annual service information mailing.

Current tenders with CPV 224 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is CPV 224 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

National postal authorities, central banks, civil registration offices, public transport operators, municipal utilities, government departments with document issuing responsibilities, and public sector organisations requiring advertising catalogues are typical contracting authorities under CPV 224.

Companies and Bidders

Security printers, specialist printing companies, catalogue producers, and document management suppliers can win public contracts under CPV 224. For security-relevant items, specialist accreditations and government security clearances are mandatory. For catalogues and advertising materials, print quality certifications and design capability 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 224?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 224)

With tender.match, security printers and specialist printing companies automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 224 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 security printing and catalogue production 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 224)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for stamps, securities, or catalogue printing contracts, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for complex multi-component security printing contracts, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for bidding consortia – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 224

What does the CPV code 22400000 mean?

The CPV code 22400000 designates the group "Stamps, cheque forms, banknotes, securities, advertising material and catalogues" in the Common Procurement Vocabulary. It covers security-printed official documents, postage stamps, payment forms, and advertising catalogues procured by public authorities and publicly owned organisations.

How do I find tenders with CPV 224?

Tenders with CPV 224 are published at EU level on TED and on national platforms.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 224?

Requirements vary significantly by product type. Security-printed items require specialist printing accreditations, security clearances, and anti-counterfeiting capability. For catalogues and advertising materials, ISO 9001 and FSC certification are typical. Details are governed by the VgV and UVgO depending on contract value.