NACE 71.2 – Technical Testing and Analysis | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 71.2 covers technical testing, monitoring and analysis services such as soil and materials testing, environmental analysis, vehicle inspections as well as quality testing of installations and products. This group forms the institutional basis for experts, accredited test laboratories and technical monitoring organisations.

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

What does NACE 71.2 cover?

NACE 71.2 (Technical testing and analysis) classifies companies and institutions that, on the basis of specialist expertise and accreditation, provide testing and assessment services — a cross-cutting function in public procurement.

Group 71.2 within Section M and Division 71 comprises one single class:

Technical monitoring organisations (TÜV, DEKRA, SGS), accredited testing institutes, publicly appointed and sworn experts as well as engineering geologists typically fall into this area.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 71.2

Testing and assessment services under NACE 71.2 accompany almost every public construction and infrastructure contract as a mandatory service — from the soil investigation prior to ground-breaking through to the final defects inspection.

Typical types of contract

• Soil investigation and geotechnics: Drillings, soundings, soil assessments under DIN EN 1997 for new build and refurbishment projects of public bodies
• Construction materials testing and quality control: Testing of asphalt, concrete, steel and insulation on construction sites of public infrastructure
• Pollutant investigation: Asbestos, PCB and heavy metal analyses in existing buildings prior to demolition or refurbishment
• Environmental analytics: Soil, water and air analyses for authorities, municipalities and landfill monitoring
• Technical inspections of installations: Recurring inspections of lifts, pressure vessels, electrical installations in public buildings
• Vehicle inspections: Main inspections and assessments in the government vehicle fleet as well as vehicle approval

Procurement procedures for testing and expert services

Testing services under NACE 71.2 are services and are awarded under VgV or UVgO (below threshold). For recurring demand, framework agreements with one or more firms are frequently concluded. Below national thresholds (Germany: EUR 25,000 net for direct award), informal request for quotations is possible.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 71.2

CPV codes enable targeted research of testing and analysis services on TED and procurement 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 71.2 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

All construction authorities and infrastructure operators of public bodies are regular contracting authorities for testing services. Particular buyers are municipal civil engineering offices (soil investigations), health authorities (drinking water analytics), environmental authorities (immission control, contaminated site monitoring) and school operators (pollutant tests in existing buildings). Rail infrastructure operators (ÖBB, DB) also regularly commission technical testing services.

Companies and bidders

Test institutes and experts participating in public tenders must typically prove:

• Accreditation: Accreditation by national accreditation bodies (DAkkS in Germany, Akkreditierung Austria) under DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory services or ISO/IEC 17020 for inspections
• Expert authorisation: Public appointment and sworn-in status for certain assessment areas
• Technical equipment: Laboratory equipment, measurement devices, fleet for sampling
• References: Comparable completed testing contracts by type and scope

NACE 71.2 in context: Section M and Division 71

NACE 71.2 complements within Division 71 the planning services of architectural and engineering firms (71.1) with the entire area of technical testing and assessment.

• NACE M – Professional, scientific and technical activities: Parent section
• NACE 71 – Architectural and engineering activities: Parent division
• NACE 71.1 – Architectural and engineering activities: Planning services, HOAI, professional services procurement
• NACE 73.2 – Market research and public opinion polling: Social science surveys

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 71.2 and public tenders

Do test laboratories need to be accredited for public contracts?
For safety-relevant or legally prescribed testing services (e.g. drinking water analytics under TrinkwV, soil reports for certain building classes), contracting authorities regularly require accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025. For simpler expert services, a specialist qualification may be sufficient.

How are recurring testing services awarded?
For ongoing demand (e.g. annual lift inspections in municipal buildings), contracting authorities frequently conclude framework agreements with qualified testing institutes. The term is limited under public procurement law to a maximum of four years.

Can publicly appointed experts be commissioned without competition?
Below national thresholds, direct commissioning without competition can be permissible. In the selection, however, the principle of economic efficiency and, in the case of an indicated market price, an obligation to obtain comparative offers must be observed.

What role do TÜV and DEKRA play in public tenders?
TÜV companies and DEKRA are in Germany delegated undertakings for vehicle main inspections/emissions tests and certain installation inspections. For services outside delegated activities, they participate in tenders as regular bidders.

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