Central Procurement Activity in Procurement Law 2026
Central procurement activity: EU directive umbrella term for all activities of central procurement bodies – wholesaler and ancillary function.
Definition: Under Directive 2014/24/EU, central procurement activity covers all activities permanently carried out by a central procurement body – in particular the acquisition of supplies or services for other contracting authorities (wholesaler function) and the award of public contracts and conclusion of framework agreements in the name and on behalf of other contracting authorities (ancillary function).
Last updated: January 2026 · Legal status: Directive 2014/24/EU Art. 2 (1) no. 16, BVergG 2018 § 8
What is central procurement activity?
Central procurement activity is the term legally defined in EU Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU for the range of tasks that a central procurement body performs permanently and professionally for other public contracting authorities. The definition in Art. 2 (1) no. 16 of the Directive distinguishes between two core forms: the wholesaler function and the ancillary function.
The wholesaler function comprises the acquisition of supplies or services that are then passed on to other contracting authorities. The central body acts as an independent contracting authority.
The ancillary function includes activities such as: the award of public contracts in the name of other contracting authorities, the conclusion of framework agreements for others, and general support services in procurement processes (e.g. advice, provision of procurement platforms, preparation of procurement procedures).
Distinction from occasional procurement
The term "central procurement activity" presupposes permanence – it does not apply to ad-hoc procurements in which one contracting authority occasionally acts for another.
This distinction has practical significance: only if a body permanently exercises central procurement activity can it be qualified as a "central procurement body" within the meaning of the Directive and thus benefit from the associated procurement-law simplifications.
Legal consequences
Classification as a central procurement body that exercises central procurement activity has direct procurement-law consequences for the affiliated contracting authorities.
Contracting authorities that obtain goods or services through a correctly acting central procurement body are exempt from their own tendering obligation for these services – provided that the central procurement body has itself complied with the procurement rules. This creates considerable simplifications in practice.
In Austria and Germany, the national rules closely follow the EU provisions.
FAQ
What distinguishes central procurement activity from ordinary procurement? It is permanent, professional and carried out for other contracting authorities – not just for one's own demand. The central body is specialised in procurement as a core task.
Can municipal bodies also exercise central procurement activity? Yes. Municipal procurement cooperations or municipal procurement bodies can also exercise central procurement activity within the meaning of the Directive.
Last updated: January 2026 All information without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please contact a law firm specialising in procurement law.
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