CPV 731 – Research and Experimental Development Services

What does CPV 731 cover?

CPV group 731 covers research and experimental development services. This includes basic research, applied research and experimental development commissioned and externally conducted for public contracting authorities. The code covers laboratory research, prototype development, technological pilot projects and scientific studies with an experimental character. Contracting authorities use it when commissioning research institutions or companies to carry out specific R&D work.

Experimental development differs from pure research through its direct link to implementation – for example, the development of a prototype for new administrative software, the testing of new materials for infrastructure, or the development of innovative energy solutions for public buildings. Contracting authorities use R&D contracts to have solutions to specific problems developed before entering into regular procurement.

Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) is a specific instrument through which contracting authorities run R&D phases with multiple companies in parallel, only placing a commercial contract after successful development. This promotes innovation-based procurement and offers particular opportunities for SMEs and start-ups.

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 731

Examples of Tenders with CPV 731

• Development of an AI-Based Traffic Management System: A major city procures an R&D project to develop an AI-based traffic management system for its urban area, from concept development through prototyping to a pilot operation at 20 junctions.
• Research on Low-Emission Road Surfaces: A regional roads authority procures a research project on the development and testing of new road surfaces with reduced tyre wear particulate emissions, including laboratory tests and a trial section on a rural road.
• Pre-Commercial Procurement for Innovative Cooling Alternatives: A government ministry launches a PCP procedure for the development of energy-efficient alternatives to conventional air conditioning in government buildings, with three development phases and competition between four teams.

Current tenders with CPV 731 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

Who is CPV 731 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Government ministries with departmental research responsibilities, public research funding bodies, agencies with technological development needs, and forward-thinking municipalities looking to initiate innovation projects are the contracting authorities under CPV 731. Innovation-friendly procurement is a stated policy objective at EU and national level.

Companies and Bidders

Universities, major public research institutes, R&D companies, technology start-ups and interdisciplinary research consortia are the relevant bidders. Publications evidence, patents, reference projects and evidence of specific research capacities are typical requirements. PCP procedures are particularly attractive for innovative SMEs. Further information is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 731?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 731)

With tender.match, research institutions and innovative companies automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 731 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 R&D 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 731)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for R&D projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger R&D projects that a single institution cannot handle alone, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for research consortia and partial services – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 731

What does the CPV code 73100000 mean?

The CPV code 73100000 designates research and experimental development services in the European classification system. It covers applied research, prototype development and experimental development work commissioned externally by public authorities.

How do I find tenders with CPV 731?

Tenders with CPV 731 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 731?

Bidders are generally required to provide scientific qualifications, relevant publications, patents or prototype experience, and reference projects of comparable research scope. Details are governed by the VgV and, for below-threshold awards, the UVgO.