NACE 71.1 – Architectural and Engineering Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 71.1 covers the activities of architectural and engineering firms that provide planning, design and consultancy services for construction projects. In public procurement, these are the key professional service providers for building and civil engineering projects at all levels.

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

What does NACE 71.1 cover?

NACE 71.1 (Architectural and engineering activities) classifies firms that provide intellectual creative planning services — from the initial design idea through to construction supervision — and is among the most frequent service awards of public bodies.

Group 71.1 within Section M (Professional, scientific and technical activities) is broken down into two classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 71.1 are federal authorities, federal states, municipalities, federal real estate companies (BIG, BImA), school authorities, hospital operators as well as all other public-sector institutions with construction tasks.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 71.1

Architectural and engineering services are a core area of public procurement — almost every construction project of public bodies requires a formal award of planning services under public procurement law.

Typical types of contract

• Building object planning (HOAI § 34): School, administrative, justice and cultural buildings; overall service phases 1–9 or individual service phases
• Structural design (HOAI § 49): Structural calculations and execution drawings for new build and refurbishment
• Building services engineering (HOAI § 53 et seq.): Planning of heating, ventilation, sanitation, electrical and lifts
• Traffic planning: Road cross-sections, roundabouts, servicing concepts for municipal projects
• Open-space planning (HOAI § 38): Green spaces, school yards, parks
• Competitions under RPW: Implementation competitions and idea competitions for prestige projects

Procurement procedures for professional services

Planning services are in principle not construction services and are awarded under VgV (Procurement Regulation) or UVgO. Where the EU threshold is exceeded (EUR 221,000 for supplies and services, as at 2024/2025), a negotiated procedure with prior selection or a competitive dialogue is the standard procedure. For particular projects, section 69 VgV prescribes a planning competition under RPW.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 71.1

CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary) enable tender searches for planning services on TED and national platforms.

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

Who is NACE 71.1 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

All public-sector clients — from small municipalities to federal ministries — must formally tender planning services from the statutory thresholds. Of particular importance are federal building offices, the federal real estate administrations (BIG in Austria, BImA in Germany), regional property companies and municipal building offices. School operators and hospital operators in public ownership are further high-volume contracting authorities.

Companies and bidders

Architectural and engineering firms participating in public tenders must typically prove:

• Professional authorisation: Entry in the chamber of architects or chamber of engineers, professional qualification under EU Directive 2005/36/EC
• Professional liability insurance: Sufficient cover amounts for the type of service tendered
• References: Comparable completed projects (fee volume, type of use, size class)
• Personnel resources: Qualification of the responsible project manager, specialist planners deployed

Bidding consortia of architects and specialist engineers are common practice. Capacity reliance allows missing references to be evidenced through associated firms.

NACE 71.1 in context: Section M and Division 71

NACE 71.1 is part of Division 71 (Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis) within Section M (Professional, scientific and technical activities).

• NACE M – Professional, scientific and technical activities: Parent section
• NACE 71 – Architectural and engineering activities: Parent division
• NACE 71.2 – Technical testing and analysis: Experts, test laboratories, TÜV services
• NACE 72.1 – Research and experimental development: Public-sector research contracts

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 71.1 and public tenders

Does the HOAI apply as a binding price regulation in public tenders?
Following the CJEU judgment of 4 July 2019 (C-377/17), the minimum and maximum rates of the HOAI have been declared contrary to EU law. Public contracting authorities can, however, continue to use the HOAI structure as a calculation basis; a binding price commitment no longer exists.

Which tender procedure is prescribed for planning services?
Where the EU threshold is exceeded, the negotiated procedure with prior selection is the standard case (section 17 VgV). For urban planning or architecturally significant projects, a planning competition under RPW 2013 may be ordered.

Can small firms participate in EU-wide tenders?
Yes. Bidding consortia and capacity reliance allow smaller firms to meet reference and capacity requirements. Contracting authorities are also obliged to design eligibility criteria proportionately.

What is the difference between an architectural competition and a negotiated procedure?
In a planning competition, a design concept is awarded anonymously; the subsequent commission is awarded without a further tender procedure. In the negotiated procedure, firms are selected by eligibility and negotiate the fee and scope of service with the contracting authority.

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