NACE 70.2 – Management Consultancy Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 70.2 covers public relations services and general business and management consultancy. This group is particularly significant in public procurement, as consultancy services for federal ministries, municipalities and public enterprises generate substantial procurement volumes.

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

What does NACE 70.2 cover?

NACE 70.2 (Management consultancy activities) classifies agencies and consultancies providing strategic advice, communications consultancy and PR services.

Group 70.2 within Section M (Professional, scientific and technical activities) and Division 70 is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities are federal ministries, regional ministries and authorities, municipalities, public enterprises and EU institutions — together they constitute one of the highest-volume markets for consultancy services in Germany and Austria.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 70.2

Consultancy tenders by public bodies are among the politically most sensitive and procurement-law-wise most demanding procurement operations — transparency and economic efficiency are at the centre of public scrutiny.

Typical types of contract

• Strategy consultancy for ministries: Advice on the drafting of laws, regulations, national action plans and transformation strategies
• Organisational consultancy: Administrative reforms, administrative modernisation, digitalisation consultancy for public institutions
• Process optimisation: Lean government projects, efficiency gains in administrative processes, workflow automation
• PR and public relations: Communications campaigns for federal authorities, government campaigns, information campaigns (e.g. vaccination campaigns, energy-saving campaigns)
• Change management: Support of transformation processes in public organisations
• Evaluation and impact measurement: Evaluation of funding programmes, regulatory impact assessments

Thresholds and procedure types

Consultancy and PR service contracts above EUR 221,000 (2024/2025) must be tendered EU-wide. Due to the intellectual nature of many consultancy services, the competitive negotiated procedure with prior selection is widespread. Framework agreements with multiple bidders enable flexible call-offs for recurring consultancy needs.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 70.2

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

Who is NACE 70.2 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Federal ministries and their subordinate authorities are the main contracting authorities for management consultancy and PR. Critical consultancy contracts (e.g. on pandemic management, energy transition, digitalisation) are subject to particular public interest. Municipalities commission consultancy services for urban development, budget consolidation and administrative reform. Public enterprises (transport operators, municipal utilities) use external consultancy know-how for transformation projects.

Companies and bidders

Consultancies and PR agencies in the public-sector market must observe the following requirements:

• Reference evidence: Comparable consultancy mandates in the public sector; often defined as a minimum requirement
• Conflicts of interest: Careful review and disclosure of existing mandates that could lead to conflicts of interest
• Qualification of advisors: CVs and qualification evidence for the project staff to be deployed
• Data protection: Handling of authority-internal information, confidentiality obligations

NACE 70.2 in context: Section M and Division 70

• NACE M – Professional, scientific and technical activities: Parent section
• NACE 70.1 – Activities of head offices: Holding administration, shareholding management
• NACE 73.2 – Market research and public opinion polling: Surveys, evaluation research
• NACE 69 – Legal and accounting activities: Legal advice for public institutions

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 70.2 and public tenders

Do consultancy services always have to be tendered?
Yes, where the contract value (including options) exceeds the relevant threshold. Below the thresholds, the UVgO (federal) or corresponding regional rules apply. Direct award is only permissible within narrow statutory limits.

What needs to be considered when tendering communications campaigns?
Campaign contracts are frequently divided into lots (concept/creation, media planning, production). For framework agreements, the overall volume of the call-off phase is decisive. Copyrights in created works must be contractually regulated.

How does the Federal Court of Auditors deal with consultancy contracts?
The Federal Court of Auditors regularly reviews the award and use of external consultancy services for economic efficiency and compliance with public procurement law. Reports of the Federal Court of Auditors on consultancy contracts have in the past led to procurement reforms.

What are the typical award criteria in consultancy tenders?
In addition to price, quality criteria are decisive: project concept and methodology, qualification of the advisors deployed, reference projects. The most economically advantageous tender concept is decisive — the lowest price alone is not a permissible criterion.

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