NACE 42.9 – Construction of Other Civil Engineering Projects | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 42.9 covers other civil engineering activities not falling under road and rail construction (42.1) or utility construction (42.2). This includes the construction of port facilities, hydraulic engineering works, dams, mining infrastructure, outdoor sports facilities and the servicing of industrial and commercial sites.

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

What does NACE 42.9 cover?

NACE 42.9 (Construction of other civil engineering projects) is the catch-all group for all civil engineering activities not classified in groups 42.1 or 42.2 — from major hydraulic engineering projects to the preparation of sports facilities and industrial sites.

Group 42.9 within Section F (Construction) and Division 42 (Civil engineering) is divided into two classes:

The scope of NACE 42.9 is broad: public contracting authorities include waterway and shipping offices, flood protection authorities, port authorities, municipal sports offices, economic development agencies and mining and energy companies with public participation.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 42.9

Other civil engineering covers some of the largest and most complex single projects in public procurement — port expansions, dam refurbishments and flood protection programmes regularly rank among the highest-volume infrastructure contracts in Europe.

Typical contract types

• Hydraulic engineering and coastal protection: Dyke strengthening, groyne repairs, bank stabilisation on rivers and coasts, securing steep slopes and embankments
• Port facilities: Construction and refurbishment of quay and berthing structures, slipways, ferry landings, work-harbour expansion
• Locks and weir installations: Modernisation of inland navigation locks, weir replacement, automated control systems
• Dams and flood protection: Dam rehabilitation, basin extensions, retention basins, flood walls and dykes in settlement areas
• Outdoor sports facilities: Natural grass pitches, artificial turf fields, athletics facilities, equestrian facilities, municipal open-air pools (basin construction, outdoor areas)
• Servicing of commercial sites: Earthworks and site preparation for industrial and commercial parks, internal-site transport links, drainage facilities

Thresholds and procedure types

Due to the often very high contract values of hydraulic structures and port projects, awards in NACE 42.9 frequently exceed the EU threshold for works contracts (EUR 5,538,000, as of 2024/2025) and must be published EU-wide on TED. Common procedure types are the open procedure and the restricted procedure with call for participation for particular technical complexity. For port facilities and certain water infrastructure, utilities procurement law may apply.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 42.9

For targeted searches for tenders in NACE 42.9, the following CPV codes are particularly relevant; they must be stated in TED notices.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

For contracting authorities and bidders

Public contracting authorities

In hydraulic engineering, the most important contracting authorities are the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) in Germany and viadonau (the Austrian Waterways Company) in Austria. Flood protection projects are coordinated by federal states and water management offices — often as multi-year framework programmes with individual contracts and framework agreements.

Port facilities are tendered by port administrations (Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, Hafen Wien, Linz AG) and municipal ports. Depending on the economic orientation, utilities procurement law may apply.

Sports facility tenders come primarily from municipalities, city districts and municipal sports undertakings. Owing to typically smaller contract volumes, national procurements below the EU thresholds predominate here.

Commercial site servicing is often tendered by municipal economic development agencies or municipalities themselves and includes, alongside earthworks, transport infrastructure, supply and disposal lines and green areas.

Companies and bidders

Construction companies under NACE 42.9 typically must provide the following suitability evidence for EU-wide tenders:

• Trade authorisation: Trade licence as a civil engineering, hydraulic engineering or specialist foundation contractor, depending on the trade
• Technical capacity: Reference projects with comparable hydraulic engineering depth, port facility or sports facility size; for dams, particularly strict reference requirements often apply
• Economic and financial capacity: Balance sheet and turnover evidence, construction risks insurance and project-specific liability insurance
• Certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001; for hydraulic engineering, OHSAS/ISO 45001 for occupational safety on waters; DVWK standards for hydraulic engineering services

Particularly in hydraulic engineering and port construction, evidence of specialised equipment (suction dredgers, floating cranes, washing equipment) and specialised personnel (divers, skippers) is relevant. Joint bidders with specialist subcontractors are the rule.

Frequently asked questions on NACE 42.9 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 42.9?
Civil engineering contractors with a focus on hydraulic engineering, port construction, earthmoving and site preparation that do not predominantly engage in road or pipeline construction. Classification is based on the focus of economic activity.

What special considerations apply to the award of hydraulic engineering works?
Hydraulic engineering measures, particularly on federal waterways, are subject in Germany to federal procurement law and are managed by the Waterway New Construction Office or the WSV as contracting authority. Environmental requirements (Habitats Directive assessments, water-law permits) are an integral part of the specifications.

How are sports facility tenders typically structured?
Municipal sports facility measures are often divided into trade lots: earthworks and drainage, surfacing (natural grass, artificial turf, tartan), ancillary facilities (lighting, fencing, furniture). Main-contractor tenders are common in larger stadium projects.

Are there EU funding programmes that influence tender volumes in NACE 42.9?
Yes. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund and the LIFE Fund regularly co-finance flood protection, renaturalisation and coastal protection projects. EU co-financed measures are subject to particularly strict procurement and transparency obligations.

NACE 42.9 in context: Section F and Division 42

NACE 42.9 is part of Division 42 (Civil engineering) within the construction Section F.

• NACE F – Construction: Parent section covering all construction activities
• NACE 42 – Civil engineering: Division covering road, water and pipeline construction
• NACE 42.1 – Construction of roads and railways: Road, motorway and rail construction
• NACE 42.2 – Construction of utility projects: Sewer, water and energy pipelines

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