NACE 47.4 – Retail Sale of Information and Communication Equipment in Specialised Stores | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 47.4 covers the specialised retail sale of information and communication technology (ICT) in stationary retail premises – including computers, notebooks, tablets, peripherals, telecommunications equipment and software. In public procurement, this area is one of the highest-volume supply categories, as public bodies at all levels continuously procure IT hardware, communications equipment and digital infrastructure.

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

What does NACE 47.4 cover?

NACE 47.4 (Retail sale of information and communication equipment in specialised stores) classifies specialist dealers distributing computers, communications equipment and related products in stationary stores — a segment with direct relevance for the IT equipment of public administrations, schools and infrastructure operators.

Group 47.4 within Section G (Trade) and Division 47 (Retail trade) is divided into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 47.4 are in particular schools and educational institutions, higher education institutions, federal authorities, state ministries, municipal administrations, hospitals, police and security authorities and public IT service providers such as data centres.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 47.4

ICT hardware is one of the most frequently procured product categories in the public sector — digital administrative modernisation, school digitalisation and the expansion of public IT infrastructure drive a consistently high contract volume in this segment.

Typical contract types

• Computers and notebooks: Mass tenders for workstation PCs, laptops and tablets for administrations, schools and universities — often as framework agreements with call-off options for several years
• Printers and multi-function devices: Procurement of printers, copiers and scanners for offices and administrative buildings, frequently combined with maintenance contracts and managed print services
• Mobile devices and communication technology: Smartphones, tablets and communication equipment for field service, security authorities and mobile administrative activity
• Network technology: Routers, switches, access points and WLAN infrastructure for office and school buildings
• Monitors and AV technology: Screens, interactive whiteboards and presentation technology for schools, conference rooms and public facilities
• School digitalisation: Device equipment programmes for schools under the Digital Pact (Germany) or comparable state programmes (Austria)
• Software licences: Procurement of standard software, operating systems and office suites frequently bundled with hardware deliveries

Thresholds and procedure types

IT hardware procurements are supply contracts and are subject to the EU threshold (EUR 221,000 for central contracting authorities, EUR 443,000 for utility contracting entities, as of 2024/2025). Due to the high values, many IT procurements must be tendered EU-wide on TED. Framework agreements with terms of two to four years are the rule for recurring hardware needs. Large central procurements run through dynamic purchasing systems (DPS) or electronic catalogues.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 47.4

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 on TED.

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

Who is NACE 47.4 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

IT procurement is a significant procurement area at all administrative levels. In Austria, the Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) coordinates central IT framework agreements for federal ministries and subordinate agencies; the Ministry of Education manages hardware programmes for schools. In Germany, the Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BeschA) bundles central IT procurement for federal authorities; the federal states operate their own IT service centres (e.g. dataport, FITKO-associated bodies) that coordinate tenders for state and municipal level. The Digital Pact for Schools has also triggered a substantial volume of hardware procurement by school operators.

Companies and bidders

IT specialist dealers, system houses and IT distributors under NACE 47.4 typically must provide the following suitability evidence for public tenders:

• Trade authorisation and commercial register entry: Evidence of trade or IT specialist dealer status
• Authorised dealer status: Manufacturer authorisation for tendered products (e.g. Microsoft, Dell, HP, Lenovo) is frequently required for brand-specific tenders
• Reference projects: Evidence of comparable supply contracts with public contracting authorities, particularly for large-volume deliveries
• Logistics and supply capability: Evidence of warehousing, delivery time compliance and technical support capacity
• Certifications: ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 27001 (information security) for tenders with a data protection link
• Sustainability: EPEAT Gold or Silver certification of the offered devices for environmentally-oriented tenders (GPP – Green Public Procurement)
• Economic and financial capacity: Annual turnover evidence, insurance, bank guarantees for larger contracts

Joint bidders between specialist dealers and IT service providers are common for complex tenders with hardware and service elements.

NACE 47.4 in context: Section G and Division 47

NACE 47.4 is part of Division 47 (Retail trade) within Section G (Trade) — with close overlap with ICT services (Section J) and IT system integration.

• NACE G – Trade: Parent section covering all trade activities
• NACE 47 – Retail trade: Division covering all stationary retail
• NACE 47.1 – Retail sale in non-specialised stores: Supermarkets and department stores
• NACE 47.3 – Retail sale of automotive fuel: Fuel supply for public fleets

Frequently asked questions on NACE 47.4 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 47.4?
IT specialist dealers, electronics dealers and system houses offering computers, communications equipment and related ICT products in stationary retail premises or direct sales. Pure IT service providers without goods distribution fall under other NACE classes (e.g. 62.0).

How do I find current public IT hardware tenders?
EU-wide tenders are available on TED by CPV search (e.g. 30213000 for PCs, 30213100 for notebooks, 32250000 for mobile phones). National platforms such as the Austrian Federal Procurement Portal or the German DTVP and Vergabe24 also list sub-threshold procedures.

What sustainability requirements apply to public IT procurement?
Public contracting authorities increasingly integrate Green Public Procurement criteria (GPP): EPEAT certification, energy efficiency classes under the Energy Star standard, requirements for recyclability and manufacturer take-back guarantees. In the EU, these criteria are documented in the EU GPP criteria catalogue for ICT equipment.

Can smaller IT specialist dealers participate in nationwide framework agreements?
Direct participation in large framework agreements (e.g. BBG, BeschA) is often linked to minimum turnover and manufacturer authorisation. Smaller dealers can, however, act as authorised call-off entitled parties under existing framework agreements or bid directly for regional and municipal tenders where lot divisions enable participation.

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