CPV 246 – Explosives

What does CPV 246 cover?

CPV group 246 (24600000) covers public contracts for explosives – military and police ammunition, blasting and demolition explosives, pyrotechnic devices, fireworks, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) materials, detonators and initiating systems, and propellant compounds. The group covers both explosive substances and devices, and the associated specialist technical materials used in safety, security, and civil engineering applications.

In the public sector, explosives and ammunition are procured primarily by the armed forces and national police forces for operational readiness and training. State-level police forces procure service ammunition for weapons training and operational use. State building and civil engineering authorities procure blasting materials for rock demolition and tunnelling operations on public infrastructure projects. Municipal authorities may procure pyrotechnic devices for organised public firework displays. Emergency services authorities procure emergency flares and signal pyrotechnics.

Within CPV group 240, group 246 is the most strictly regulated category due to the security, safety, and legal requirements governing explosives and ammunition supply. Procurement in this category is subject to additional legal constraints beyond standard procurement law, including explosives licensing, security vetting, and arms export regulations where applicable. Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Typical Services in CPV 246

• Service ammunition for police forces and armed forces training and operations
• Blasting materials and detonation systems for civil engineering demolition
• Pyrotechnic devices for public safety and emergency signalling
• Explosive ordnance materials for specialist public authority applications

Examples of Tenders with CPV 246

• Service Ammunition for a State Police Force: A state interior ministry tenders a multi-year supply framework for standard-calibre service ammunition for police weapons training and operational stock across all police services in the state.
• Blasting Materials for a Road Tunnel Construction Project: A state road construction authority procures blasting explosives, detonators, and initiation systems for a rock excavation and tunnel driving project as part of a major highway infrastructure programme.
• Emergency Signal Flares for a Maritime Rescue Service: A state maritime rescue coordination authority procures approved pyrotechnic distress signal flares, parachute rockets, and smoke signals for supply to rescue vessels and coastal stations.

Current tenders with CPV 246 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is CPV 246 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

National and state police forces, the armed forces, state civil engineering and road construction authorities, maritime rescue services, and public authorities with specialist operational requirements for pyrotechnics are the typical contracting authorities under CPV 246. Procurement is highly regulated and often subject to restricted tender procedures.

Companies and Bidders

Ammunition manufacturers, commercial explosives producers, pyrotechnics suppliers, and specialist EOD material providers can win public contracts under CPV 246. Mandatory requirements include explosives manufacturing or trading licences under national explosives laws, ISO certifications, UN approval markings for transport, security vetting, and for police and military ammunition NATO STANAG compliance where applicable. 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 246?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 246)

With tender.match, ammunition manufacturers and commercial explosives suppliers automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 246 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 explosives and ammunition 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 246)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for explosives and ammunition contracts, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for contracts requiring multiple product categories or specialist technical capability, company.match automatically identifies suitable licensed partners – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 246

What does the CPV code 24600000 mean?

The CPV code 24600000 designates the group "Explosives" in the Common Procurement Vocabulary. It covers ammunition, blasting agents, detonation systems, pyrotechnic devices, and related explosive materials procured by public authorities including police forces, armed forces, civil engineering authorities, and emergency services.

How do I find tenders with CPV 246?

Tenders with CPV 246 are published at EU level on TED and on national platforms.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 246?

Mandatory requirements include national explosives trading and manufacturing licences, UN hazardous goods transport approvals, security clearance, and for ammunition products conformity with applicable technical standards and ballistic specifications. Details are governed by the VgV and UVgO depending on contract value.