NACE 52.1 – Warehousing and Storage | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 52.1 covers the economic activity of storing and warehousing goods — including cold storage, hazardous substance warehouses, bonded warehouses, general goods warehouses and silos. For public contracting authorities, warehousing is relevant for the procurement of stocks, the management of strategic reserves and customs administration.

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

What does NACE 52.1 cover?

NACE 52.1 (Warehousing and storage) classifies undertakings that warehouse and store goods for third parties — relevant in public procurement for strategic stockpiling, bonded warehouses, material warehousing for public authorities and the logistics of public institutions.

Group 52.1 within Section H (Transportation and storage) and Division 52 covers the following typical activities:

Public contracting authorities are customs authorities, the Bundeswehr and defence ministries (material warehousing), civil protection authorities (BBK, Federal Office of Civil Protection), health authorities (medicine reserves), procurement offices and regional stockpiling agencies.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 52.1

Warehousing services are tendered in the public sector primarily for strategic reserves, military material management, bonded warehouses and the storage of procured goods.

Typical types of contract

• Strategic warehousing services: Storage, management and picking of strategic goods reserves (e.g. federal grain and oilseed reserves, petroleum stocks through the Petroleum Stockholding Agency)
• Medical stockpiling: Storage and management of medicines, protective equipment and medical supplies for state reserves (pandemic preparedness)
• Military warehousing: Material management and warehousing services for the Bundeswehr/Bundesheer — vehicles, equipment, ammunition components
• Bonded warehouses and free zones: Operation of publicly approved bonded warehouses (types I–VI under the Union Customs Code) for state institutions and storage facilities
• Cold-chain warehousing (GDP-compliant): Storage of vaccines and pharmaceuticals for public health authorities under GDP conditions
• Hazardous substance warehouses: Storage and management of hazardous substances (chemicals, fuel) for civil protection and THW

Thresholds and procedure types

Warehousing service contracts are subject to the EU threshold for services (EUR 221,000 for municipalities and federal authorities, as of 2024/2025). Framework agreements over several years are frequent. For strategic warehouses, a negotiated procedure without prior publication may be justified on grounds of national security interests.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 52.1

CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary), which must be specified in every contract notice on TED, link the NACE classification with tender searches.

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

For whom is NACE 52.1 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) in Germany and the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) in Austria are central contracting authorities for strategic warehousing services. The federal procurement office (BeschA) centrally tenders warehousing services for federal authorities. The Bundeswehr (BAAINBw, Bw Bekleidungsmanagement GmbH) awards extensive warehousing and logistics contracts. For medicine reserves, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) in Germany is responsible, and following the COVID-19 pandemic has been tendering strategic warehousing capacity.

Companies and bidders

Warehousing operators in the NACE 52.1 area typically have to provide the following evidence of eligibility for public tenders:

• Authorisation: Warehousing concession (Austria), operating licence (Germany), bonded warehouse authorisation under the Union Customs Code (Article 211 UCC)
• Technical capacity: Storage capacity (sq m / cubic m), cold chain evidence (GDP certification), security systems
• Hazardous substance expertise: Authorisations under hazardous substances law (BetrSichV, TRGS 510), ADR/GGVSE qualifications
• Economic capacity: Warehouse liability insurance, annual turnover, solvency

NACE 52.1 in context: Section H and Division 52

NACE 52.1 forms part of Division 52 (Warehousing and support activities for transportation) within transport Section H — an indispensable link in public supply chains and logistics systems.

• NACE H – Transportation and storage: Parent section covering all transport activities
• NACE 52 – Warehousing and support activities for transportation: Division covering warehousing and ancillary transport activities
• NACE 52.2 – Support activities for transportation: Ports, airports, stations
• NACE 53.1 – Postal activities under universal service obligation: Postal logistics with warehousing overlap

Frequently asked questions about NACE 52.1 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 52.1?
All logistics and warehousing operations whose main activity is the storage and warehousing of goods for third parties — whether general warehouses, cold storage, hazardous substance warehouses or bonded warehouses.

Does the procurement of warehousing services differ from the award of rental contracts for storage space?
Yes. A service contract for warehousing (including storage, picking, management) is subject to public procurement law. A pure lease for storage space, by contrast, falls under property law and is excluded from the scope of the procurement directives (Article 10(a) of Directive 2014/24/EU). The dividing line lies in the service element.

What is a publicly authorised bonded warehouse and why is it relevant for authorities?
A public bonded warehouse (type I or II under Article 240 UCC) permits the storage of goods from third countries without immediate customs duty levy. For authorities procuring goods from non-EU countries (e.g. protective equipment, military goods), the use of public bonded warehouses is economical and flexible.

What role does GDP certification play in public warehousing tenders?
GDP (Good Distribution Practice) is an EU guideline for the proper distribution of medicinal products for human use (2013/C 343/01). Authorities storing medicines or vaccines invariably require GDP-compliant warehousing service providers as an eligibility condition.

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