NACE 46.9 – Non-Specialised Wholesale Trade | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 46.9 covers wholesale of a broad, non-specialised range of goods — so-called mixed-goods traders or cash-and-carry wholesalers that have no clearly delineated dominant goods segment. This group is relevant in public procurement, as authorities and public institutions frequently award bundled orders and framework agreements for heterogeneous goods packages.

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

What does NACE 46.9 cover?

NACE 46.9 (Non-specialised wholesale trade) classifies companies that offer a broad, non-segment-focused range of goods at wholesale — a catch-all category for all-round wholesalers and system suppliers.

Group 46.9 within Section G (Trade) and Division 46 (Wholesale trade) is divided into two classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 46.9 are authorities with heterogeneous procurement needs, correctional facilities, barracks and federal armed forces facilities, care homes and healthcare facilities in public ownership and canteens and community catering facilities.

Public Tenders: Mixed Goods and System Supplies in the Public Sector

For the public sector, NACE 46.9 is particularly relevant in contexts in which authorities or public institutions bundle a broad, cross-cutting goods need in a single tender — for example as a framework agreement for general office supplies and consumables.

Typical contract types

• Office supplies framework agreements: Collective contracts for writing, office and consumable materials for authorities and public institutions — frequently tendered as central framework agreements
• Consumables and operating supplies: General operating supplies (cleaning products, hygiene items, protective equipment) for municipal facilities and administrations
• Community catering and food deliveries: Broad-range deliveries for canteens, refectories, community facilities in public hands
• Household and household-supplies goods: Furnishing and household needs for social facilities, refugee accommodation, care homes
• Multi-range framework agreements: Procurement frameworks for standard items across various goods groups that are called off through a central merchandise management system
• Civil protection and stockpiling: Procurement of emergency stocks with a broad product mix for state stockpiling and civil protection

Thresholds and procedure types

For supply contracts, the EU-wide tendering obligation on TED applies from EUR 221,000 (central authorities: EUR 143,000, as of 2024/2025). Collective tenders for heterogeneous goods packages are frequently tendered as framework agreements with several lots in order to reach both specialist dealers and mixed-goods traders. The open procedure is standard; for catalogue contracts with dynamic product selection, the dynamic purchasing system (DPS) is increasingly used.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 46.9

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

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

Who is NACE 46.9 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Almost every public body has a need for general consumables and office supplies. At federal level, central procurement bodies such as the Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BeschA) in Germany and the Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) in Austria bundle this need in collective tenders. At municipal level, procurement is frequently decentralised, with smaller awards below the thresholds handled under national law. Public facilities with a special supply character (correctional services, military, refugee supply) often have a particularly broad and short-notice goods need.

Companies and bidders

Mixed-goods traders and system suppliers typically must provide the following suitability evidence for public tenders:

• Trade authorisation: Trade registration as a trading business; no special expertise certificate required
• Technical capacity: Evidence of supply logistics (storage capacity, delivery times, merchandise management), reference lists of comparable supply contracts
• Economic and financial capacity: Minimum annual turnover, business liability insurance, creditworthiness evidence
• Product evidence: Depending on the range: food authorisations, CE markings, REACH compliance for chemicals

Joint bidders between specialist suppliers of individual goods groups are a common strategy for collective tenders with several subject areas.

NACE 46.9 in context: Section G and Division 46

NACE 46.9 is the final group of Division 46 (Wholesale trade) within the trade Section G and covers all wholesale activities not classifiable elsewhere.

• NACE G – Trade: Parent section covering all trade activities
• NACE 46 – Wholesale trade: Division covering all wholesale groups
• NACE 46.7 – Other specialised wholesale: Energy carriers, building materials, industrial materials
• NACE 46.5 – Wholesale of information and communication equipment: Computers, telecommunications, office machinery

Frequently asked questions on NACE 46.9 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 46.9?
Companies whose wholesale activities are not dominated by a single goods segment — that is, genuine multi-range traders, cash-and-carry wholesalers and system suppliers with a broad portfolio. Specialist dealers (e.g. only ICT or only food) fall into the relevant specialist groups.

How are collective tenders for heterogeneous goods packages structured?
They are frequently divided into lots by goods group (e.g. Lot 1: office supplies, Lot 2: cleaning products, Lot 3: occupational safety). This enables specialist dealers to participate in individual lots, while mixed-goods traders can offer all lots. Contracting authorities can limit the number of lots that a bidder can be awarded.

What is a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) and when does it make sense?
The DPS is an electronic procurement instrument for off-the-shelf, standardised goods. Suppliers can be admitted at any time; specific orders are placed through simplified mini-competitions. It is particularly suitable for broad goods catalogues with frequently changing needs — i.e. typical NACE 46.9 constellations.

Can smaller traders also participate in such tenders?
Yes, particularly through joint bidders and the option of capacity reliance. In addition, national procurements below the EU thresholds are generally more accessible for SMEs, as the requirements are lower. Lot-based awards are generally to be sought under German and Austrian procurement law.

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