NACE 85.6 – Educational Support Activities | Public Tenders
NACE 85.6: Educational mediation, pupil transport and school administration in public tenders. CPV codes and procurement practice in the education sector.
Definition: NACE 85.6 covers support activities for educational institutions, in particular educational mediation, pupil counselling, pupil transport and school-administration-related services. This group covers the infrastructure surrounding the education sector, not the education service itself.
Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026
What does NACE 85.6 cover?
NACE 85.6 (Educational support activities) classifies providers of education infrastructure services — an area which, in public procurement, is shaped primarily by pupil transport and administrative services for schools.
Group 85.6 within Section P (Education) and Division 85 includes the following classes:
| Class | Title | Typical services |
|---|---|---|
| 85.60 | Educational support activities | Pupil transport, school administration, education counselling, supply of learning materials |
Typical contracting authorities include school authorities, municipal school operators, districts (for pupil transport), school administration offices, and state education ministries.
Public Tenders: Activity area NACE 85.6
Pupil transport is the highest-volume procurement category in this segment — districts and municipalities award transport services every year for pupils with special educational needs and for the general school system.
Typical types of contract
- Pupil transport: Transport of pupils with and without disabilities to schools (scheduled services, special transport services)
- School bus services: Exemption of scheduled buses or dedicated bus services for the school journey
- Pupil transport for special educational needs: Transport services for children with disabilities to special-needs schools and day care
- School catering: Catering for school canteens, lunch for all-day schools
- Textbook loan and procurement: Framework agreements for school books, learning materials, digital teaching materials
- School administration software: IT systems for timetabling, school administration, digital class registers
Pupil transport as a concession award
In certain cases, pupil transport is awarded as a service concession, where the operating risk passes to the concessionaire. This is treated under the German Concession Award Regulation (KonzVgV), with different thresholds and procedures than classic service contracts.
Relevant CPV codes for NACE 85.6
| CPV code | Title | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 60130000 | Special-purpose road passenger-transport services | Pupil transport, special transport services |
| 85312000 | Social work services without accommodation | School-accompaniment services |
| 80000000 | Education and training services | Educational mediation, counselling |
| 55524000 | School catering services | School catering, canteen operation |
| 48190000 | Educational software | School administration software, learning management |
| 22110000 | Printed books | School books, learning materials |
Who is NACE 85.6 relevant to under procurement law?
Public contracting authorities
Districts and independent cities are the primary contracting authorities for pupil transport services. In Germany, responsibility lies with school operators (municipalities, districts) and the school authorities of the states. For pupil transport, the rules of the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG) apply alongside procurement law.
Companies and bidders
- PBefG licence: For scheduled and occasional transport, a licence under § 2 PBefG is required
- Vehicle standards: Accessibility (low-floor vehicles, wheelchair ramps) for transport of pupils with disabilities
- Driver personnel: Evidence of qualifications, certificate of good conduct, where applicable extended driving licence classes
- Insurance: Minimum cover for personal injury under motor vehicle liability
- References: Demonstrated experience with pupil transport or comparable passenger transport services
NACE 85.6 in context: Section P and Division 85
- NACE P – Education: Parent section
- NACE 85 – Education: Division
- NACE 85.1 – Pre-primary education: Pre-school education
- NACE 85.5 – Other education: Driving schools, language schools, continuing education
Frequently asked questions on NACE 85.6 and public tenders
Must pupil transport always be tendered? Yes, provided the contract value exceeds the relevant thresholds. For pupil transport as a service concession, an elevated threshold of EUR 5,538,000 applies. Below the thresholds, national budgetary rules apply.
Can taxi companies participate in pupil transport tenders? Yes. Taxi companies with suitable vehicles and the required licences can participate in tenders. For transport of children with disabilities, additional requirements (accessible vehicles, trained escort personnel) must be met.
What role do digital school administration systems play in public tenders? School administration software is increasingly tendered centrally at state level (e.g. DiViS, Untis). Schools as individual units are often not contracting authorities themselves but obtain software via state licence agreements. Additionally, systems for canteen administration, communication and digital infrastructure are tendered at municipal level.
Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.
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