NACE 62.0 – Computer Programming, Consultancy and Related Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 62.0 covers the provision of information technology services — in particular software development, IT consultancy and IT systems integration. This group is at the heart of the digitalisation of public administrations and is among the most tender-intensive areas in public procurement.

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

What does NACE 62.0 cover?

NACE 62.0 (Computer programming, consultancy and related activities) classifies companies that develop software, advise on and integrate IT systems and realise bespoke IT solutions for clients — a central segment of public procurement in the course of administrative digitalisation.

Group 62.0 within Section J (Information and Communication) and Division 62 is broken down into four classes:

In the public sector, NACE 62.0 is particularly relevant for the implementation of e-government projects, the modernisation of specialist procedures and the digital transformation of administrative processes.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 62.0

IT services are among the highest-volume tender areas in the public sector — driven by administrative digitalisation, OZG implementation in Germany and comparable national e-government programmes.

Typical types of contract

• Bespoke software development: Development of authority-specific specialist procedures, register applications and portal solutions (e.g. OZG-compliant online services)
• IT consultancy services: Strategic IT consultancy, project management support, IT architecture consultancy for authorities
• Systems integration: Linking of existing IT systems, migration to new platforms, ERP implementations in public administration
• Application management and maintenance: Operation and further development of existing government applications, bug fixing and release maintenance
• IT security services: Penetration tests, security consultancy, vulnerability analyses for government IT systems
• Agile development services: Scrum-based development in public IT projects, increasingly tendered as multi-stage procedures

Thresholds and procedure types

IT service contracts regularly exceed the EU threshold for services (EUR 221,000 for central federal authorities, EUR 443,000 for other public contracting authorities). Typical procedures are the open procedure, the restricted procedure with prior selection as well as — for complex requirements that are difficult to specify — the competitive dialogue or the innovation partnership.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 62.0

CPV codes are the decisive instrument for researching IT tenders on procurement platforms — NACE 62.0 corresponds to a broad range of CPV groups under the main code 72xxxxxx.

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily), Germany's procurement marketplace, the Austrian tender portal as well as on specialised IT procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 62.0 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Demand for IT services is ubiquitous in the public sector — from small municipal administrations to federal ministries:

• Federal authorities: ITZBund, BITKOM, federal ministries and subordinate authorities procure extensive IT development and consultancy services
• Regional administrations: Implementation of e-government projects, modernisation of specialist procedures at the regional level
• Municipalities: Introduction of town hall portals, digital building applications, online citizen services in line with the OZG
• Public enterprises: IT projects at public utilities, hospitals, public-law institutions
• IT service centres: Regional IT bodies such as LZDI (Baden-Württemberg), LIT.NRW or DATAPORT AöR in turn procure external development services

Companies and bidders

IT service providers wishing to participate in public tenders under NACE 62.0 must observe the following requirements:

• Technical capability: Reference lists of comparable IT projects with information on contract value, project duration and technology stack
• Quality management system: ISO 9001 or comparable certification is frequently required on larger projects
• IT security: BSI IT baseline protection competence, ISO 27001 certification on security-relevant projects
• Economic capability: Annual turnover (often two to three times the contract value), balance sheet figures, insurance evidence
• Personnel evidence: Qualification evidence for key personnel (project managers, developers, architects)

For SMEs, division into lots and bidding consortia provide access to larger IT projects.

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 62.0 and public tenders

Which companies are classified under NACE 62.0? All IT service companies whose principal activity is the development of software, IT consultancy or the operation of IT systems — from large IT consultancies (Accenture, Capgemini, CGI) to specialised SMEs.

What is the relationship between NACE 62.0 and NACE 63.1 (hosting)? NACE 62.0 covers development and consultancy, while NACE 63.1 covers the operation of data centres and cloud services. In practice, many companies offer services in both groups.

How is agile software development implemented under public procurement law? Agile projects pose particular challenges for classical public procurement law. Possible approaches are framework agreements with call-offs, multi-stage procedures and the innovation partnership. The BMI and KBSt have published guidelines on agile procurement.

Do IT services have to be tendered EU-wide? Only if the total contract value exceeds the thresholds. Below the thresholds, national procurement rules apply (UVgO in Germany, BVergG in Austria), which permit shorter procedures.

NACE 62.0 in context: Section J and Division 62

• NACE J – Information and Communication: Parent section with all ICT activities
• NACE 61 – Telecommunications: Division covering telephone, mobile and internet
• NACE 61.1 – Wired telecommunications activities: Fixed line and fibre
• NACE 63.1 – Data processing, hosting and related activities: Cloud and data centres
• NACE 63.9 – Other information service activities: Databases and news agencies

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