NACE 26.6 – Manufacture of Irradiation, Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Equipment | Public Tenders

NACE 26.6: X-ray, MRI and treatment devices in public procurement. CPV codes for hospital and clinic tenders at a glance.

Definition: NACE 26.6 covers the manufacture of irradiation, electrotherapy and electromedical equipment. This includes imaging diagnostic devices (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound), radiotherapy systems, endoscopy and surgical devices and other electromedical equipment for clinics and medical practices.

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

What does NACE 26.6 cover?

NACE 26.6 (Manufacture of irradiation, electromedical and electrotherapeutic equipment) classifies manufacturers of medical technology procured by public hospitals, university clinics and healthcare institutions — one of the largest spending segments in public procurement.

Group 26.6 is broken down into the following classes:

Class	Title	Typical products
26.60	Manufacture of irradiation, electromedical and electrotherapeutic equipment	X-ray systems, computed tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic-resonance tomographs (MRI), ultrasound devices, linear accelerators (radiotherapy), endoscopes, electrosurgical devices, dialysis machines, patient monitors

Public contracting authorities under NACE 26.6 include municipal and district-level hospitals, university clinics (university medical centres), armed-forces hospitals, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) and laboratories of public health institutions.

Public tenders: scope of activity NACE 26.6

Medical-technology procurement by public hospitals and clinics is among the most complex and highest-value procurement procedures in the public sector — an MRI device costs EUR 1–3 million, a linear accelerator up to EUR 5 million.

Typical contract types

Imaging diagnostics: CT scanners, MRI devices, X-ray systems, fluoroscopy systems for radiology departments
Nuclear medicine: PET scanners, SPECT cameras, gamma cameras for nuclear-medicine diagnostics
Radiotherapy: linear accelerators, brachytherapy systems, treatment-planning systems
Endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery: video endoscopy systems, laparoscopy towers, robotic assistance systems (Da Vinci)
Intensive care and monitoring: ventilators, patient monitors, defibrillators for intensive-care units
Dialysis: haemodialysis machines and dialysis-water treatment plants for nephrology wards

Thresholds and procurement procedures

Major medical-technology devices regularly exceed the EU supply threshold (EUR 221,000). Frequently used procedures: open procedure (above the EU threshold), restricted procedure for technically complex systems. For maintenance contracts, the thresholds for service contracts apply.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 26.6

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.

CPV code	Title	Application area
33100000	Medical equipment	Parent category medical technology
33111000	Imaging equipment	X-ray systems, fluoroscopy
33112200	Ultrasound unit	Sonography devices for diagnostics
33115000	Tomography devices	CT scanners, MRI devices
33151000	Radiotherapy devices and supplies	PET, SPECT, gamma cameras
33167000	Surgical lamps	Operating lamps and surgical equipment
33157000	Gas-therapy and respiratory devices	Ventilators, oxygen systems

Current tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the German Hospital Institute (DKI).

For whom is NACE 26.6 relevant in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

In Germany there are around 1,900 hospitals, of which approximately 30% are in public ownership. University clinics, as legal entities under public law, are required to apply procurement law. Municipal hospitals and district hospitals are subject to the same obligations as public contracting authorities. Armed-forces hospitals procure via BAAINBw and the Federal Office for Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services of the Bundeswehr (BAIUDBw).

Companies and bidders

Manufacturers and suppliers of medical devices must typically provide the following evidence:

Medical-device approval: CE marking under MDR 2017/745 for all classes I–III; higher risk classes (CT, MRI, linear accelerators) require notified-body certification
Radiation-protection requirements: approval under the German Radiation Protection Act (StrlSchG) for X-ray and radiotherapy systems
Quality management system: ISO 13485 (medical-devices QMS) generally required
References: installations of comparable devices in hospitals of similar size

Frequently asked questions on NACE 26.6 and public tenders

How are MRI and CT devices tendered publicly?
Generally in the EU-wide open procedure, since contract values regularly exceed the EU threshold. Tenders frequently cover supply, installation, commissioning, staff training and a multi-year full-service contract.

How do I find tenders for medical technology?
Search on TED by CPV code (e.g. 33115000 for tomography devices, 33111000 for X-ray). Specialised portals: dtvp.de, hospital tenders via state-level companies (e.g. BG Kliniken, Gesundheit Nord).

What special features apply to the procurement of radiotherapy systems?
Linear accelerators and other radiotherapy devices require a radiation-protection approval under the StrlSchG. The contracting authority must obtain approval from the competent state authority before commissioning; the manufacturer must provide the corresponding approval documentation.

NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
NACE 26 – Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products: parent division
NACE 26.5 – Manufacture of measuring and navigation instruments: measurement technology, laboratory equipment
NACE 26.7 – Manufacture of optical instruments: microscopes, forensics, laboratories

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