NACE 55.9 – Other Accommodation | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 55.9 covers all other forms of accommodation that do not fall under hotels (55.1), holiday accommodation (55.2) or camping grounds (55.3) — including youth hostels, dormitories (hostels), workers' lodgings, student halls of residence and accommodation for asylum seekers. In public procurement, the procurement of accommodation for refugees and persons seeking protection is among the highest-volume and most regulation-intensive procurement areas in this segment.

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

What does NACE 55.9 cover?

NACE 55.9 (Other accommodation) classifies accommodation operations with a specific purpose or target group — a segment shaped in public procurement particularly by state accommodation obligations for asylum seekers and the homeless.

Group 55.9 within Section I (Accommodation and food service activities) and Division 55 (Accommodation) covers the following types of facility:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 55.9 are primarily municipalities and districts (for homeless shelters and municipal asylum seeker accommodation), regional authorities (for initial reception facilities), the BAMF (for federal reception facilities) and youth associations with public funding.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 55.9

The procurement of accommodation for asylum seekers and homeless persons is a particularly dynamic procurement segment — with high contract volumes, complex requirements for support services and procurement-law particularities in urgent procurements.

Typical types of contract

• Initial reception facilities for asylum seekers: Operation of properties by private or non-profit providers on behalf of federal and regional government — frequently combined with security, social and catering services
• Shared accommodation and decentralised housing: Municipal tenders for renting living space or operating shared accommodation
• Emergency shelters and warming centres: Municipal tenders for homeless shelters, day rooms and night quarters
• Youth hostels and youth guest houses: Tenders for the operation of publicly funded youth hostels by youth hostel associations or third parties
• Accommodation for unaccompanied minor foreigners (UMA): Specialist accommodation services with intensive social support
• Modular accommodation (containers, lightweight construction): Procurement and erection of temporary accommodation modules by municipalities and federal states

Thresholds and procedure types

Asylum accommodation services can be subject to a privileged procedure as social services. Under Article 74 of the EU Procurement Directive (2014/24/EU), simplified rules apply to social and other specific services with an elevated EU threshold of EUR 750,000. In cases of urgency (short-notice accommodation needs), negotiated procedures without prior publication are possible under narrow conditions.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 55.9

The following CPV codes are particularly relevant for searches for tenders in the area of other accommodation.

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 55.9 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

In Germany, the federal states (via state reception facilities), districts and urban districts (for shared and follow-on accommodation) and the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, for federal reception facilities) are the central contracting authorities. In Austria, basic provision for asylum seekers is the responsibility of the federal provinces under the basic provision agreement; the award of accommodation services is made by regional authorities and commissioned agencies.

Companies and bidders

Providers in this segment — including social providers, welfare associations, private security companies and catering operations — typically have to provide the following evidence:

• Provider suitability and reliability: Official reliability checks, criminal record certificates for staff employed
• Social law requirements: Qualifications for social support staff, concepts for psychosocial support
• Capacity evidence: Occupancy capacity, emergency plans, occupancy management
• Data protection: GDPR-compliant processing of sensitive personal data of residents
• Fire safety and security technology: Compliance with building and fire safety requirements for shared accommodation

Frequently asked questions about NACE 55.9 and public tenders

What falls under NACE 55.9 as opposed to the other groups of Division 55?
NACE 55.9 is a catch-all category for all forms of accommodation that are not hotels (55.1), holiday accommodation (55.2) or camping grounds (55.3). Typical examples are purpose-oriented accommodation such as asylum accommodation, youth hostels and homeless shelters.

Are asylum accommodation services subject to regular public procurement law?
Yes, but with simplifications: as social services under Annex XIV of the EU Procurement Directive, an elevated threshold (EUR 750,000) and simplified procedural requirements apply. Below this threshold, national rules apply.

Can welfare associations be exempted from the tendering obligation?
In Germany, § 107(1) No 4 GWB (old version) contained a sectoral exemption for certain providers, but this is only of limited applicability following ECJ case law. Today, regular public procurement law applies with the simplifications for social services.

How quickly must urgent procurements for asylum accommodation be carried out?
The negotiated procedure without publication is possible where there is demonstrated urgency that has not been caused by the contracting authority. Documentation requirements for the urgency justification are strict; subsequent review by procurement chambers is possible.

NACE 55.9 in context: Section I and Division 55

• NACE I – Accommodation and food service activities: Parent section covering all accommodation and food service activities
• NACE 55 – Accommodation: Division covering all forms of accommodation
• NACE 55.1 – Hotels and similar accommodation: Classical hotel operations
• NACE 55.2 – Holiday and other short-stay accommodation: Holiday flats, recreation homes
• NACE 55.3 – Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks: Camping and motorhome pitches

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