NACE 85.1 – Pre-Primary Education | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 85.1 covers pre-primary education, i.e. education at the first level of the school system (ISCED level 1). In public procurement, this group is relevant for awards relating to school buildings, learning materials, school catering and associated infrastructure measures at primary schools.

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

What does NACE 85.1 cover?

NACE 85.1 (Pre-primary education) classifies institutions that provide teaching at the primary stage — in Germany and Austria these are primary schools (Grundschulen, Volksschulen) and comparable institutions covering years 1 to 4 or 1 to 6.

Group 85.1 belongs to Section P (Education) and Division 85. It comprises:

Contracting authorities under NACE 85.1 are predominantly municipalities and cities as school operators, districts, and municipal in-house companies that manage school premises. Federal and state governments act as grant-giving bodies via funding programmes (e.g. DigitalPakt Schule, investment programmes).

Public Tenders: Activity area NACE 85.1

Primary schools and their operators trigger extensive procurement measures — from construction works through learning materials to canteen operations and cleaning services.

Typical types of contract

• School construction and refurbishment: New build and major refurbishment of primary school buildings, sports halls, canteens and canteen extensions
• Energy refurbishment: Renewal of façades, roofs and windows, heating modernisation, photovoltaic installations on school roofs
• Learning materials and school equipment: Supply of school books, teaching and learning materials, school furniture, blackboards and whiteboards
• IT equipment and digitalisation: Tablets, notebooks, interactive displays, Wi-Fi infrastructure under the DigitalPakt Schule programme
• School catering: Canteen catering, lunch delivery (cook & chill, hot catering), operation of school kiosks and cafeterias
• Cleaning and caretaking services: Maintenance cleaning, glass cleaning, technical building services
• Pupil transport: Framework agreements for school bus services, special transport for children with disabilities

Thresholds and procurement procedures

Supply and service contracts (e.g. learning materials, catering) frequently fall below the EU threshold of EUR 221,000 (for sub-central contracting authorities). Construction works for primary schools regularly exceed the works threshold of EUR 5,538,000 in the case of major refurbishments and must be tendered EU-wide.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 85.1

CPV codes enable targeted searches for tenders relating to primary schools on TED and on national procurement platforms.

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

Who is NACE 85.1 relevant to under procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

School operators at primary level in Germany and Austria are almost without exception public-law bodies. Municipalities are responsible for the construction, operation and equipment of primary school buildings as school operators. In larger cities, municipal school administration offices or property management companies take on procurement in a pooled manner. State governments and the federal government steer significant investment volumes via funding programmes (DigitalPakt Schule, KfW programmes, BMBWF in Austria).

Companies and bidders

Companies pursuing contracts in the NACE 85.1 environment must provide different evidence of suitability depending on the type of contract:

• Construction companies: Entry in the trade register, references for comparable school construction projects, quality management system
• Catering companies: Food hygiene certificates (HACCP), references in school catering, certifications (e.g. DGE quality standard)
• IT suppliers: Product certifications, GDPR compliance, references in the education sector
• Cleaning companies: Industry-standard certifications (RAL GZ 902), social-insurance certificates, minimum-wage evidence

For framework agreements tendered in lots (e.g. school furniture for several primary schools), small and medium-sized enterprises can also bid successfully.

NACE 85.1 in context: Section P and Division 85

NACE 85.1 is part of Division 85 (Education) within Section P — one of the largest public procurement areas in Germany and Austria.

• NACE P – Education: Parent section
• NACE 85 – Education: Entire division
• NACE 85.2 – Secondary education: Lower and upper secondary
• NACE 85.3 – Higher education: Universities and higher-education institutions
• NACE 85.6 – Educational support activities: School administration, counselling

Frequently asked questions on NACE 85.1 and public tenders

Which institutions fall under NACE 85.1?
Primary schools and elementary schools that provide teaching at the primary stage (ISCED 1). This includes state and recognised private primary schools as well as special-needs schools at the primary level.

How do I find current tenders in the primary-school sector?
EU-wide tenders are available on TED via a CPV search (e.g. 45214200 for school buildings, 55523100 for school catering). National tenders are published on state procurement platforms and municipal tender portals.

Is a NACE 85.1 registration required to participate in tenders?
No. The NACE classification is a statistical system. For the suitability assessment, trade authorisations, references and financial capacity are decisive.

Are school construction projects split into lots?
Yes, particularly for larger refurbishment projects, trade-lot procurement (e.g. shell construction, electrical, sanitary, furnishing) under § 97(4) GWB or § 76 BVergG 2018 is required, to enable the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

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