NACE 26.2 – Manufacture of Computers and Peripheral Equipment | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 26.2 covers the manufacture of computer equipment and peripherals, including desktop PCs, laptops, servers, storage systems, printers, scanners and other computer peripherals. This group belongs to Division 26 (Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products) within Section C (Manufacturing).

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

What does NACE 26.2 cover?

NACE 26.2 (Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment) classifies manufacturers, traders and system integrators that supply computer hardware for use in government, schools and businesses — one of the highest-volume IT procurement areas in the public sector.

Group 26.2 is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 26.2 include federal ministries, the armed forces (BWI GmbH), school boards and ministries of education, universities and higher-education institutions, municipal administrations and public hospitals and research institutions.

Public tenders: scope of activity NACE 26.2

IT hardware procurement is one of the most frequently tendered product segments in public procurement — the federal government, federal states and municipalities procure hundreds of thousands of end devices each year under framework agreements and individual tenders.

Typical contract types

• End-device procurement for authorities: standardised client PCs, laptops and thin clients for administrative workstations
• School digitalisation (Digitalpakt Schule): pupil laptops, tablets and peripherals for educational institutions
• Armed-forces IT equipment: hardened laptops, military workstations via BWI GmbH and BAAINBw
• Server infrastructure and data centres: rack servers, blade systems, storage arrays for government data centres
• Printer-fleet management: multifunction devices, laser printers, managed-print services for administrative buildings
• Framework agreements (federal IT procurement): central framework agreements of the Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BeschA)

Thresholds and procurement procedures

For IT supply contracts, the EU threshold for supply and service contracts is EUR 221,000 (higher federal authorities) or EUR 443,000 (utility sectors). Framework agreements are frequently awarded in the open procedure or via dynamic purchasing systems (DPS).

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 26.2

The bridge between the NACE classification and the tender search is formed by the CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary), which must be stated in every notice on TED.

Current tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on the procurement platform of the Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

For whom is NACE 26.2 relevant in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

The largest individual contracting authorities in the IT hardware area are the Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BeschA) with central framework agreements for the federal sector, BWI GmbH as the IT systems house of the armed forces, and the state computing centres and municipal IT service providers. In the education sector, school boards (districts, county-free cities) have become significant buyers since the Digital Pact for Schools.

Companies and bidders

Manufacturers and traders of IT hardware must typically provide the following evidence of eligibility for EU-wide tenders:

• Certifications: ISO 9001, BSI IT Grundschutz certificate (for security-critical procurement)
• Technical capability: references for comparable supplies, evidence of manufacturer partnerships
• Economic capability: balance sheets, turnover evidence for the last three financial years
• Sustainability requirements: EPEAT registration (Gold/Silver), Energy Star certification are increasingly required

Resellers can demonstrate technical eligibility via manufacturer-partnership evidence even if they do not hold a manufacturer authorisation themselves.

Frequently asked questions on NACE 26.2 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 26.2?
Manufacturers of computer hardware (e.g. HP, Dell, Lenovo) and also authorised resellers and systems houses that procure and integrate hardware. Classification is based on the focus of economic activity.

How do I find current IT hardware tenders?
EU-wide tenders are available on TED via CPV search. National framework agreements of the BeschA are published at www.bescha.bund.de. Other sources: DTVP, evergabe.de, subreport ELVIS.

Must IT devices meet specific security requirements?
For procurement by authorities with increased protection needs (e.g. armed forces, intelligence services), BSI-certified or VS-NfD-suitable devices are often required. The BSI maintains a list of approved products.

Are used devices admissible in public tenders?
In principle yes, unless the tender excludes them. In practice, most contracting authorities require new devices, but refurbished hardware is increasingly considered as a sustainable alternative.

• NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
• NACE 26 – Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products: parent division
• NACE 26.1 – Manufacture of electronic components: semiconductors, circuit boards
• NACE 26.3 – Manufacture of communication equipment: telephones, network technology

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