NACE 58.1 – Publishing of Books, Periodicals and Other Publishing Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 58.1 covers the publishing of books, periodicals, specialist journals and other periodicals as well as directories and similar works in printed or electronic form. In public procurement, this area is mainly relevant for library procurement, official publications and information materials.

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

What does NACE 58.1 cover?

NACE 58.1 (Publishing of books, periodicals and other publishing activities) classifies undertakings that publish and distribute printed products and digital media — from academic specialist journals through city magazines to legal texts and official gazettes.

Group 58.1 within Section J (Information and communication) and Division 58 (Publishing activities) is broken down into three classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 58.1 are primarily libraries, education ministries, cultural authorities, parliamentary administrations and public publishers and information service providers.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 58.1

The publishing and journals sector is relevant in the public sector primarily for library procurement, the subscription to specialist journals for public authorities and the production of official printed publications.

Typical types of contract

• Library procurement: Framework agreements for the ongoing acquisition of books and media for public and university libraries
• Specialist journal subscriptions: Official procurement of academic databases and journal licences (print and digital)
• Official publications: Production and distribution of official gazettes, statutory publications, accountability reports
• School books and teaching aids: Public procurement of textbooks for schools (often centrally by education ministries)
• Information brochures: Print production of authority information materials for citizens
• Open access publications: Funding and procurement projects for academic open-access publishing services

Thresholds and procedure types

For supply contracts for books and periodicals, the EU threshold for supplies applies (EUR 221,000 for central procurement bodies, as of 2024/2025). Libraries frequently award contracts under the simplified procedure or through direct purchase, while larger framework agreements are tendered EU-wide under the open procedure.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 58.1

CPV codes, which must be specified in every TED contract notice, link the NACE classification to 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 58.1 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Public libraries at municipal, regional and federal level are the highest-volume contracting authorities in the book sector. In Austria, school book procurement is centralised through the Federal Ministry of Education under the Schulbuchaktion. In Germany, regional libraries and municipal city libraries are key procurement bodies. University libraries frequently conclude consortium agreements for academic journals. Parliamentary administrations and the Bundesanzeiger publishers are further significant contracting authorities for official publications.

Companies and bidders

Publishers and media houses participating in public tenders should typically consider the following:

• Range breadth: Libraries prefer full-range providers that can deliver entire baskets
• Electronic catalogues: Requirements regarding EDI interfaces and library management systems (e.g. ALMA, FOLIO)
• Licensing models: For e-media, usage rights, access conditions and perpetual access provisions are decisive
• Discount tiers: Public contracting authorities often negotiate volume discounts on list prices

Frequently asked questions about NACE 58.1 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 58.1? Book publishers, journal publishers, newspaper publishers and distributors and intermediary booksellers predominantly engaged in publishing activities. Pure print production without publishing activity falls under NACE 18.1.

How do I find library tenders in my region? EU-wide tenders are available on TED via CPV search (e.g. 22100000, 22200000). National platforms such as the Austrian procurement platform (ANKÖ) or the German e-procurement platform also list national procedures.

Are open-access publication services subject to mandatory tendering? Yes, where universities or research institutions procure publishing services for open-access transformation contracts, these are subject to public procurement law where the thresholds are exceeded.

How are school books procured in Austria? The Austrian Schulbuchaktion is operated via a central ordering system of the Ministry of Education. Publishers apply for inclusion of their works in the school book guide; the actual procurement is governed systemically and is not a classical procurement procedure.

NACE 58.1 in context: Section J and Division 58

• NACE J – Information and communication: Parent section
• NACE 58 – Publishing activities: Division covering all publishing classes
• NACE 58.2 – Software publishing: Standard software for public administration
• NACE 59.1 – Motion picture, video and television programme activities: Public relations and corporate films

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