CPV 355 – Military and Civil Vehicles

What does CPV Group 355 cover?

CPV Group 355 (35500000) classifies public contracts for military and civil defence vehicles – specialised vehicles procured for use in defence operations, emergency response, civil protection and public safety contexts. This includes main battle tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, military trucks and logistics vehicles, wheeled and tracked engineering and support vehicles, fire-fighting vehicles (fire engines, aerial platforms, rescue tenders), ambulances and mobile medical units, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) detection and decontamination vehicles, and command post and communications vehicles.

The procurement landscape under CPV 355 is diverse, spanning both the fully military domain (governed by the Defence Procurement Directive) and the civil emergency response domain (governed by standard procurement rules). Fire engines are among the most frequently procured vehicle types in this group at the municipal level – every volunteer and professional fire service requires periodic renewal of its vehicle fleet, from light rescue vehicles to aerial ladder platforms. Ambulances procured by public health authorities or municipal rescue services also fall within this group.

Vehicle procurement under CPV 355 typically involves detailed technical specifications, performance testing requirements and often a factory acceptance visit. Long-term maintenance and spare parts supply contracts are frequently bundled with the vehicle procurement. For military vehicles, defence procurement rules apply with their attendant security requirements.

Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008 amending the CPV.

Typical Services in CPV 355

• Fire engines, aerial platforms and rescue tenders
• Ambulances and mobile medical treatment units
• Armoured personnel carriers and military logistics vehicles
• CBRN detection, protection and decontamination vehicles
• Command post and mobile communications vehicles
• Water rescue and flood response vehicles

Examples of Tenders with CPV 355

• Heavy fire engine for a municipal fire service: A city fire service procures a heavy pumping appliance with 3,000-litre water tank, high-pressure pump, aerial rescue ladder and full equipment loading, to DIN 14530 fire appliance standards.
• Ambulance fleet renewal for a district rescue service: A district authority renews its fleet of ten ambulances, procuring fully equipped emergency ambulances to DIN EN 1789 (Type C), including medical equipment fit-out, for its publicly operated rescue service.
• CBRN reconnaissance vehicle for a civil protection service: A federal civil protection agency procures a wheeled CBRN reconnaissance vehicle with integrated detection sensors, GPS mapping, and decontamination shower for its specialist hazardous materials response unit.

Current tenders with CPV 355 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is CPV 355 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Municipal fire services, district and regional rescue services, civil protection agencies, public health and ambulance authorities, and armed forces vehicle procurement offices are the primary contracting authorities under CPV 355. Vehicle acceptance testing, compliance with DIN and EN vehicle standards, and comprehensive after-sales service networks are standard procurement requirements.

Companies and Bidders

Specialist fire appliance builders, ambulance conversion manufacturers, military vehicle producers and their authorised service agents are the main bidders. DIN EN certification compliance for emergency vehicles, factory acceptance testing capability, a nationwide service network and references for comparable vehicle supply contracts are key eligibility and award criteria.

Information on eligibility criteria and procurement procedures is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 355?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 355)

With tender.match, fire appliance builders, ambulance manufacturers and specialised vehicle producers automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 355 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 specialised vehicle 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 355)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for specialised vehicle projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger fleet procurement or multi-vehicle contracts, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for bidding consortia and partial services – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 355

What does the CPV code 35500000 mean?

The CPV code 35500000 covers the group "Military and Civil Vehicles" in the EU's Common Procurement Vocabulary. It classifies public contracts for the supply of fire engines, ambulances, military logistics vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and other specialised emergency and defence vehicles to public authorities and emergency services.

How do I find tenders with CPV 355?

Tenders with CPV 355 are published at EU level on TED. Below-threshold contracts are commonly found on national platforms. Bond aggregates all sources and delivers targeted results.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 355?

Requirements typically include DIN EN 1789 (ambulances) or DIN 14530 (fire appliances) certification, factory acceptance testing capability, a nationwide after-sales and service network, references for comparable vehicle supply and, for military vehicles, the relevant defence procurement security requirements. Details are governed by the VgV or the UVgO for below-threshold contracts.