CPV 386 – Optical Instruments

What does CPV 386 cover?

CPV group 386 covers optical instruments and systems. This includes microscopes of all types (light, electron, confocal, fluorescence microscopes), telescopes and binoculars (astronomical and terrestrial), prisms and optical lenses, endoscopes and fibre-optic systems (medical and industrial), thermal imaging systems (thermal cameras, infrared cameras), spectroscopy instruments, optical alignment devices, and laser systems for metrology and scientific applications.

Public contracting authorities include research institutions and universities (microscopy, spectroscopy), medical establishments (endoscopy, medical imaging), security authorities (night-vision devices, thermal cameras for border control and police), fire brigades (thermal imaging cameras for firefighting), and defence establishments. The full CPV structure is available at the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Optical instruments in the scientific domain are frequently high-precision devices with demanding specification requirements (resolution, magnification, spectral sensitivity). Medical optical devices are subject to EU Medical Device Regulation MDR 2017/745. For security and defence applications, specific confidentiality and export control requirements may apply. Negotiated procedures may be applicable where only a limited number of suppliers can meet the technical specifications.

Typical Services in CPV 386

• Laboratory microscopes (light, electron, confocal, fluorescence)
• Binoculars and observation telescopes
• Endoscopes for medical and industrial applications
• Thermal imaging cameras for fire brigades and security services
• Spectrometers and spectroscopic analysers
• Laser measurement devices and optical alignment tools
• Night-vision devices for security authorities

Examples of Tenders with CPV 386

• Electron microscope for a university institute: Procurement of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with EDX analyser, motorised cross-table and analysis software for a materials science institute, including installation, training and a two-year full maintenance contract – published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily).
• Thermal imaging cameras for municipal fire brigades: Procurement of 25 ruggedised thermal imaging cameras for use in firefighting (person detection and hot-spot identification), with IP67 protection rating and protective housing, for a professional fire brigade – published.
• Binoculars for border control officers: Delivery of 150 military-grade binoculars with range finder and image stabilisation for officers of the federal border police on field duty – published on TED.

Current tenders with CPV 386 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is CPV 386 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Research institutions, universities, hospitals, fire brigades and security authorities procure optical instruments according to their specific application needs. Technical specifications are highly complex; MDR applies for medical optics, and the security procurement regulation (VSVgV) may apply for security-relevant applications. Further guidance is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Companies and Bidders

Optical instrument manufacturers and systems integrators are the relevant bidders. Technical expertise, CE marking, MDR conformity for medical optics, and comprehensive service concepts are the key competitive factors. References at comparable research and medical institutions strengthen tender submissions significantly.

How does Bond help with CPV 386?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 386)

With tender.match, optical instrument manufacturers and distributors automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 386 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 optical instrument 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 386)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for optical instrumentation projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger optical system 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 386

What does the CPV code 38600000 mean?

The CPV code 38600000 classifies optical instruments within the EU's Common Procurement Vocabulary. It covers microscopes, telescopes, binoculars, endoscopes, thermal imaging cameras, spectrometers and laser measurement devices procured by research institutions, hospitals, fire brigades and security authorities.

How do I find tenders with CPV 386?

Tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) for EU-wide procedures and on national platforms. Bond aggregates all relevant tenders automatically.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 386?

CE marking is mandatory for all optical instruments placed on the EU market. Medical optical devices such as endoscopes must comply with MDR 2017/745. ISO calibration certificates and references at comparable institutions are typically required. The applicable frameworks are VgV and UVgO depending on contract value.