NACE 26.1 – Manufacture of Electronic Components and Boards | Public Tenders

NACE 26.1: Electronic components and circuit boards in public procurement. CPV codes, contracting authorities and procurement procedures for electronics components.

Definition: NACE 26.1 covers the manufacture of semiconductors, capacitors, resistors, printed circuit boards and other electronic components — the basis of all modern electronic devices and systems.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 26.1 cover?

NACE 26.1 (Electronic components and boards) classifies the semiconductor and electronic-components industry — a strategically important sector with growing relevance to public procurement.

Class	Title	Typical outputs
26.11	Manufacture of electronic components	Semiconductors, transistors, diodes, ICs, capacitors, resistors
26.12	Manufacture of loaded electronic boards	Printed circuit boards (PCBs), multi-layer PCBs, flex PCBs

Public tenders: procurement of electronic components

Electronic components and circuit boards feed into public procurement for IT, defence, infrastructure control and medical devices — mostly as part of more complex systems.

Typical contract types

Defence electronics: electronic assemblies for weapons-guidance systems, communications equipment and sensors for the armed forces
Infrastructure control: circuit boards for control units of wastewater-treatment plants, traffic-control systems and energy networks
IT procurement: computer hardware with semiconductor components for government and schools
Medical technology: electronic assemblies for public hospitals and emergency rescue services
Research funding: public funding programmes for semiconductor manufacturing (Chips Act) as an indirect form of procurement

Relevant CPV codes

CPV code	Title	Application area
32333000	Electronic components	General electronics components
32333100	Video recorders and accessories	Electronic recording devices
31711000	Electronic components	Semiconductors, capacitors, resistors
31711100	Electronic miscellany	Discrete components
30236000	Various computer equipment	PCB-based systems

Contracting authorities and bidders

Public contracting authorities

Defence ministries and defence-procurement authorities (BAAINBw), operators of critical infrastructure (utility contracting authorities), public hospitals and universities and research institutions are the main buyers. The EU also funds semiconductor manufacturing through the European Chips Act with subsidies and state aid.

Bidders and eligibility requirements

ITAR/EAR compliance: for US dual-use technologies, export-control rules must be complied with
AEC-Q qualifications: automotive and industrial qualifications for high-reliability applications
RoHS compliance: Directive 2011/65/EU on hazardous substances in electronics
Security screening: for defence electronics, security clearances are required

Frequently asked questions on NACE 26.1 and public tenders

How does public procurement deal with supply-chain risks for semiconductors? Contracting authorities respond with diversification requirements (no single-source dependencies), origin evidence (no purchases from at-risk countries) and increased procurement from EU producers. The EU Chips Act aims to build up European manufacturing capacity.

Can resellers of electronics components participate in public tenders? Yes, provided originality and quality are demonstrated. The purchase of counterfeits and counterfeit components is a growing problem; contracting authorities therefore require origin evidence and test certificates (AS6081 for counterfeit risk management).

NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
NACE 26 – Electronics: parent division
NACE 26.2 – Computer equipment: systems with NACE 26.1 components
NACE 27.1 – Electric motors and transformers: related electrical technology

Last updated: January 2026 All information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement.