NACE 74.3 – Translation and Interpretation Activities | Public Tenders
NACE 74.3: Translation and interpretation services in public tenders. CPV codes, contracting authorities and eligibility requirements for public-sector contracts.
Definition: NACE 74.3 covers the economic activity of translators, interpreters and specialised language service providers that provide written translations and oral interpretation in one or more languages. In the public sector, language services are among the continuously demanded procurement categories — from EU institutions down to municipal administrations.
Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026
What does NACE 74.3 cover?
NACE 74.3 (Translation and interpretation activities) classifies companies and freelance language professionals that provide language services for business, public authorities and international organisations — one of the largest service markets in EU public procurement.
Group 74.3 belongs to Section M and Division 74. It covers two main areas:
| Field of activity | Title | Typical services |
|---|---|---|
| Written translation | Translation | Specialist translation, certified translation, localisation |
| Oral interpretation | Interpreting | Simultaneous, consecutive and whispered interpreting |
| Terminology work | Terminology management | Glossaries, term banks, linguistic quality assurance |
| Machine translation | MT post-editing | Post-editing of machine translation output, quality review |
The EU institutions (European Parliament, European Commission, Council) are the world's largest contracting authorities for language services. At national level, courts, asylum and migration authorities, foreign ministries and international organisations are particularly active contracting authorities.
Public Tenders: NACE 74.3 in Practice
Translation and interpretation services are among the most frequently tendered professional services in the public sector — both at EU level and within national authorities.
Typical types of contract
- Specialist translation for public authorities: Translation of legal texts, regulations, official decisions, technical documents, tender documentation and contracts in the source and target languages of the EU legal area
- Certified translation: Officially certified or sworn translations of certificates, diplomas and official documents
- Court interpreting: Interpretation in court proceedings, police interviews and asylum hearings — in many countries a legal requirement
- Simultaneous interpreting for conferences: Language support for international conferences, Council meetings, committee meetings and specialist symposia of public bodies
- Localisation of digital services: Linguistic adaptation of public-authority websites, digital forms and e-government applications
- Asylum and integration interpreting: Specialist language mediation for migration agencies, social welfare offices and integration services
Thresholds and procedure types
Translation services are often awarded under framework agreements with one or more providers in order to respond flexibly to ongoing demand. Major EU institutions tender multi-year framework agreements EU-wide for all official languages. National authorities frequently use negotiated procedures or direct awards for individual contracts where national thresholds are not exceeded.
Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 74.3
Searches for translation and interpretation contracts on TED and national platforms are primarily made via the following CPV codes.
| CPV Code | Title | Application |
|---|---|---|
| 79530000 | Translation services | Written specialist and general translation |
| 79540000 | Interpretation services | Simultaneous, consecutive and whispered interpreting |
| 79531000 | Certified translation services | Sworn and officially certified translation |
| 79541000 | Conference interpretation services | International conferences and symposia |
| 79521000 | Photocopying services | Transcription, recording |
| 72415000 | Web site hosting services / localisation | Linguistic adaptation of digital content |
Current tenders with these CPV codes are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.
Who is NACE 74.3 relevant to in procurement law?
Public Contracting Authorities
The need for language services exists in nearly every public authority: ministries of justice and courts need court interpreters and sworn translators; interior and migration ministries commission interpreters for asylum hearings; foreign ministries and international organisations require simultaneous interpreting capacity; and all EU member states must translate EU legal acts into national languages. In Austria, the Federal Ministry of Justice coordinates the procurement of court language services; in Germany, the regional ministries of justice are responsible.
Companies and Bidders
Language service providers and freelance translators and interpreters seeking public-sector contracts should consider the following:
- Sworn status and authorisation: For court interpreting and certified translation, official authorisation or sworn status is required in most countries (e.g. court interpreter register in Austria, ÖGSDV; in Germany, regulations vary by federal state)
- Specialist expertise: Demonstrated subject-matter competence in relevant fields (law, medicine, technology) through training or extensive professional practice
- Language combinations: Clear specification of working languages and directions (active/passive) for interpreting contracts
- Quality assurance: ISO 17100 (translation services) and ISO 18841 (interpreting services) as relevant quality standards
- Data protection: GDPR-compliant processing of documents and information, confidentiality undertakings where appropriate
NACE 74.3 in Context: Section M and Division 74
NACE 74.3 is part of Division 74 within Section M — language services form their own group within the other professional activities.
- NACE M – Professional, scientific and technical activities: Parent section
- NACE 74 – Other professional, scientific and technical activities: Parent division
- NACE 74.1 – Specialised design activities: Corporate design, graphic design
- NACE 74.2 – Photographic activities: Documentary and press photography
- NACE 74.9 – Other professional activities n.e.c.: Expert witnesses, surveyors
Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 74.3 and Public Tenders
Which companies fall under NACE 74.3?
Specialised translation agencies and language service companies, as well as freelance translators and interpreters whose principal activity is language mediation.
Do I need a special authorisation for court interpreting?
Yes. For court work, official sworn status or authorisation is generally required. In Austria, sworn interpreters are entered in the Register of Experts and Court Interpreters of the Federal Ministry of Justice. In Germany, rules vary by federal state.
How do I find current tenders for translation services?
EU-wide framework agreements are published on TED under CPV codes 79530000 and 79540000. National tenders can be found on the procurement platforms of the federal states and federal authorities, as well as on tender notification services.
Can machine translation (e.g. DeepL, GPT) be used on public-sector contracts?
The use of AI-assisted translation tools is permitted on many public-sector contracts, provided it is disclosed and the end product is reviewed and approved by a qualified human professional (post-editing). For confidential documents, data protection requirements must be observed.
Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.
Book a demo.
See what BOND finds for your company — tenders, suppliers, and partners you'd never discover on your own. Cancel any month, anytime.