NACE 80.3 – Investigation Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 80.3 covers the economic activity of detective agencies and private investigation services that observe and document persons, circumstances and conduct on behalf of clients. In public procurement, investigation services are commissioned for internal investigations, fraud prevention and fact-finding.

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

What does NACE 80.3 cover?

NACE 80.3 (Investigation activities) classifies private investigation companies that clarify facts for clients through observation, research and information analysis — a niche service in public procurement with specific legal parameters.

Group 80.3 within Division 80 covers the following activities:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 80.3 are public undertakings, social insurance providers, tax authorities and public institutions with compliance needs.

Public Tenders: NACE 80.3 in Practice

Investigation services are tendered by the public sector less frequently than other security services, but arise regularly in specific situations — particularly in the area of fraud prevention and internal investigations.

Typical types of contract

• Debtor enquiries: Whereabouts and asset enquiries for tax authorities, youth welfare offices and public creditors
• Benefit fraud investigations: Investigations of suspected social benefit fraud for job centres and social welfare offices
• Internal compliance investigations: Investigation of corruption, embezzlement or misuse of office in public institutions
• Background checks: Reliability checks of persons for security-relevant positions
• Missing person searches: Investigations for youth welfare and social welfare offices in cases of missing persons in care
• Witness interviews: Support for fact-finding on behalf of public authorities

Thresholds and procedure types

Investigation services are awarded as service contracts. Given the niche nature and confidentiality requirements, the negotiated procedure without prior call for competition is frequently used where the statutory conditions (Article 32 of Directive 2014/24/EU) are met. EU threshold: EUR 443,000 (as of 2024/2025).

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 80.3

Tenders for investigation services are published under specific CPV codes that can be searched in a targeted manner.

Current tenders with these CPV codes are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 80.3 relevant to in procurement law?

Public Contracting Authorities

Public contracting authorities for investigation services are primarily social insurance providers (health, pension and accident insurance) in cases of suspected benefit fraud, tax authorities for tax and enforcement enquiries, municipal social welfare offices and job centres, and public undertakings (municipal utilities, transport operators) in internal compliance matters. The use of private detective agencies by public authorities is subject to strict data protection and rule-of-law limits.

Companies and Bidders

Detective agencies participating in public tenders must meet specific requirements:

• Trade authorisation: Authorisation under § 34a GewO for the guarding trade (in Germany also relevant for detective services)
• Reliability: A clean police record, no relevant criminal convictions
• Data protection competence: Demonstrated GDPR-compliant data processing and a data protection officer
• Professional training: Industry-recognised training (e.g. certified private detective, criminology qualifications)
• Insurance cover: Professional indemnity insurance for detective services
• Confidentiality management: Demonstrable procedures for safeguarding investigation results

NACE 80.3 in Context: Division 80

NACE 80.3 is part of Division 80 (security and investigation activities).

• NACE 80 – Security and investigation activities: Parent division
• NACE 80.1 – Private security activities: Personnel-based site and works security
• NACE 80.2 – Security systems service activities: Video surveillance, alarm management
• NACE 69.1 – Legal activities: Complementary legal processing of investigation results

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 80.3 and Public Tenders

May public authorities engage private detective agencies?
Yes, under certain conditions. The engagement must pursue a legitimate purpose, be proportionate and comply with data protection requirements. Observation in public spaces is in principle permissible subject to the GDPR; engagement to support sovereign investigation tasks, by contrast, is legally restricted.

How do I find current tenders for investigation services?
On TED via CPV search (e.g. 79721000). Since many awards are confidential or below the thresholds, national platforms and direct enquiries with potential contracting authorities are often more productive.

Are investigation services subject to procurement law?
Yes, where the statutory thresholds are exceeded. Below the thresholds, the budget-law principles of economy and efficiency apply, which also require competition and transparency.

What distinguishes NACE 80.3 from official investigation services?
NACE 80.3 covers only private-sector detective agencies. Official investigations by police, public prosecutors or customs do not fall under this classification and are not the subject of public procurement.

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