CPV 720 – IT Services: Consultancy, Software, Internet and Support

What does CPV 720 cover?

CPV group 720 forms the overarching code for division 72 and covers the full spectrum of IT services procured by public contracting authorities. This includes IT consultancy, software development and customisation, system integration, IT infrastructure services, cloud services, web development, IT support and maintenance, and cybersecurity services. Contracting authorities use this umbrella code when an IT contract combines several service areas.

IT services are one of the most procurement-intensive fields in the public sector. The digitalisation of public administration – e-government, digital public services, online portals – generates enormous demand for IT services. National, regional and local government invest heavily in modernising their IT infrastructure, developing digital public services and protecting their IT systems against cyber threats.

Specific requirements in public-sector IT procurement include data security (to recognised national standards), data protection (GDPR compliance), open-source preferences, interoperable standards and compliance with e-government legislation. These characteristics make IT tenders in the public sector particularly demanding for bidders.

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

Typical Services in CPV 720

Examples of Tenders with CPV 720

• Digitalisation Platform for a Local Authority: A city authority procures the development and operation of a central digitalisation platform enabling citizen services, internal workflows and integration of existing specialist applications via standardised APIs.
• IT Infrastructure Modernisation for a Federal Agency: A federal agency procures the migration of its entire IT infrastructure to a secure private cloud environment, including consultancy, migration, operations and first-level support for 2,400 workstations.
• Cybersecurity Services for a District Authority: A district authority procures a comprehensive cybersecurity package – penetration testing, establishment of an ISMS to ISO 27001, staff security awareness training and a 24/7 incident response service.

Current tenders with CPV 720 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

Who is CPV 720 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

All public authorities from the smallest municipality to major government ministries have IT procurement needs. IT services are among the most frequent and highest-volume procurement categories in the public sector. Centralised IT service providers and shared services centres aggregate IT requirements for multiple public bodies.

Companies and Bidders

IT companies of all sizes are relevant bidders – from large system integrators to specialist software start-ups. Knowledge of IT security frameworks, ISO 27001 certification, GDPR compliance evidence and specific technology certifications are typical eligibility requirements. Small and medium-sized IT firms can join forces in bidding consortia for larger projects. Further information is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 720?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 720)

With tender.match, IT companies and software developers automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 720 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 IT service 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 720)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for IT projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger IT projects 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 720

What does the CPV code 72000000 mean?

The CPV code 72000000 designates IT services in the European classification system for public procurement. It forms the umbrella code for all IT-related services from consultancy and software development through to hosting and support.

How do I find tenders with CPV 720?

Tenders with CPV 720 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) for EU-wide procedures and on the German Procurement Portal (DTVP) for national tenders. Bond automatically aggregates all relevant tenders from over 1,000 portals and delivers them filtered by company profile.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 720?

IT services for public administration must be GDPR-compliant, must satisfy the requirements of the relevant cybersecurity frameworks for critical infrastructure, and must adhere to interoperability standards. For cloud services, the BSI C5 criteria catalogue sets out minimum requirements. Details are governed by the VgV and, for below-threshold awards, the UVgO.