NACE 63.9 – Other Information Service Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 63.9 covers other information service activities, including news agencies, operators of online information portals and database services. This group is relevant for public contracting authorities procuring information supply, media monitoring or database access.

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

What does NACE 63.9 cover?

NACE 63.9 (Other information service activities) classifies companies that gather, process and distribute information — without themselves producing news or operating media houses.

Group 63.9 within Section J (Information and Communication) and Division 63 is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 63.9 are federal ministries and press offices, parliaments, public-service broadcasters, research institutions as well as municipal administrations with press and public relations functions.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 63.9

Information services are increasingly regarded by public contracting authorities as a strategic resource — press monitoring, database access and news agency services are tendered on a regular basis.

Typical types of contract

• Press monitoring and media monitoring: Systematic analysis of print, online and social media sources for ministries, authorities, public enterprises
• News agency services: Access to news tickers, text databases and image archives for press offices and editorial offices of public media
• Literature databases and specialist information: Licence agreements for academic databases (e.g. Web of Science, Scopus) for public universities and research institutions
• Online information portals: Provision of subject-specific information portals for citizens or specialist users on behalf of public bodies
• Clipping services and summaries: Daily overviews of relevant media coverage for decision-makers in authorities
• Market and economic data: Licensing of business databases (e.g. Bloomberg, Refinitiv) for public financial institutions

Thresholds and procedure types

Information service contracts above EUR 221,000 (2024/2025) must be tendered EU-wide. Database licences are frequently awarded in the negotiated procedure without prior publication where only a single provider meets the technical requirements (e.g. exclusive database rights). This must, however, be strictly examined and justified.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 63.9

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

Who is NACE 63.9 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Press offices of federal and regional ministries are the main buyers of press monitoring and news agency services. Public universities and research institutions procure database licences for literature and specialist databases — often via consortia (e.g. alliance licences of the German Research Foundation). Public-service broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, ORF) procure agency content and image rights. Parliamentary administrations require comprehensive media documentation.

Companies and bidders

Providers in the information services area should consider the following aspects in public tenders:

• Copyright and licensing: Evidence that the content offered is lawfully licensed and that use by public institutions is covered
• Data protection: GDPR-compliant processing of personal data, in particular in the case of social media monitoring
• Technical integration: API interfaces, compatibility with existing systems of the contracting authority
• Completeness and timeliness: Evidence of source coverage and update frequency of the data offered

NACE 63.9 in context: Section J and Division 63

• NACE J – Information and Communication: Parent section
• NACE 63.1 – Data processing, hosting and related activities: IT infrastructure, cloud services
• NACE 62 – Computer programming, consultancy and related activities: IT consultancy, software development
• NACE 73.2 – Market research and public opinion polling: Surveys, media analyses

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 63.9 and public tenders

Do database licences have to be tendered?
Yes, as soon as the contract value (aggregated across all institutions concerned) exceeds the threshold. An exception only exists where it can be demonstrated that no competition exists — which is difficult to justify for exclusive content, since alternative offers are often available.

What needs to be considered regarding data protection in press monitoring tenders?
Social media monitoring may include personal data of users. The contractor must act as a data processor within the meaning of the GDPR. A data processing agreement under Article 28 GDPR must be concluded.

Can public libraries jointly tender database licences?
Yes. Joint procurement by library consortia is permissible under public procurement law. Central purchasing bodies can conclude framework agreements for libraries from which all affiliated institutions can call off.

Are there particularities in the award of news agency services?
News agencies such as dpa, APA or AFP often offer comprehensive services that are difficult to separate from the package. Under public procurement law, it must nevertheless be examined whether a division into lots is possible. A blanket exclusion of competition is not permissible.

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