NACE 99 – Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 99 covers the activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies — including international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), NATO, EU institutions and diplomatic missions (embassies and consulates). These bodies enjoy special legal privileges and act as significant contracting authorities.

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

What does NACE 99 cover?

NACE 99 (Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies) classifies international organisations and diplomatic missions — institutions that generate substantial procurement volumes and may be subject to their own procurement rules that can differ from national procurement codes.

Division 99 within Section U is broken down into one group:

This classification includes all international and supranational organisations and the diplomatic missions of sovereign states active on the territory of another state.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 99

Extraterritorial organisations public contracts — in particular EU institutions, UN agencies and international organisations — form their own procurement market with substantial volume and specific procurement rules.

Typical Contract Types

• EU institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council): IT systems, building services, advisory services, translations, conference management
• EU agencies (EMA, EMSA, ENISA, ERA and many more): Specialist and advisory services in their respective areas of competence
• UN organisations (UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, WFP): Humanitarian goods, logistics, medical supply, IT systems
• NATO: Defence goods, logistics, infrastructure, IT and communications systems
• Diplomatic missions: Embassies and consulates procure office equipment, security services and building services locally
• International financial institutions (World Bank, IMF, EIB): Advice, studies, capacity building

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 99

International organisations use partly their own procurement systems and partly the EU's CPV system for their tenders — EU institutions in particular publish their tenders on TED.

Tenders of the EU institutions can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily). Tenders of UN agencies are published on UNGM (United Nations Global Marketplace).

For Contracting Authorities and Bidders

Public Contracting Authorities

EU institutions are the most significant contracting authorities in the NACE 99 segment within Europe. The European Commission manages an annual procurement volume of several billion euros. Each EU agency (around 40 agencies) is an independent contracting authority. EU institutions are subject to the EU Financial Regulation and the corresponding implementing regulation — their own procurement rules, which are similar to but not identical with Directive 2014/24/EU. UN organisations are subject to their own procurement guidelines (e.g. UNGM framework for UN agencies, NATO AC/4 guidelines for NATO).

Companies and Bidders

Companies wishing to participate in tenders of international organisations typically need to take the following steps:

• Registration: On UNGM (for UN agencies) or on the relevant supplier portal of the EU institutions (e.g. SEDIA for the Commission)
• Supplier qualification: Pre-qualification procedures with some organisations (e.g. IAPSO at UNDP)
• Language skills: EU tenders appear in the official languages; bids are often in English, French or German
• Compliance evidence: Specific requirements for anti-corruption compliance, codes of conduct and supply-chain transparency

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 99 and Public Tenders

Are EU institutions subject to EU procurement law?
Not directly — EU institutions are not contracting authorities within the meaning of Directive 2014/24/EU (which is addressed to the Member States) but are subject to the EU Financial Regulation (Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046) and its implementing regulation. The procedural principles are similar but not identical.

How do I find tenders from UN agencies?
UNGM (United Nations Global Marketplace, www.ungm.org) is the central portal for tenders of most UN agencies. UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP and other agencies publish their procurement notices there. Registration as a supplier is required to participate.

Can SMEs participate in NATO tenders?
Yes — NATO tenders are accessible via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). Many contracts are awarded via national tendering platforms of the Member States. Security clearances are required depending on the type of contract.

Are embassies subject to procurement obligations?
Embassies and consulates may, depending on the home state and contract volume, be subject to their own procurement rules. In the host state, they are generally not bound by national procurement law (diplomatic immunity). For EU Member States, however, the budgetary rules of the country of origin apply.

Navigation: NACE 99 in Context

• NACE U – Extraterritorial Organisations: Parent section
• NACE 84 – Public administration: National public administration
• NACE 98 – Private households for own use: Previous division in the system
• NACE 75 – Veterinary activities: International animal health organisations (OIE)

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