NACE 99.0 – Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 99.0 covers the activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies such as the United Nations (UN), NATO, EU institutions (where not classified elsewhere), embassies, consulates and other international organisations. These bodies operate outside national procurement law but have their own procurement regimes.

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

What does NACE 99.0 cover?

NACE 99.0 (Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies) classifies international organisations and diplomatic missions — which are not subject to national procurement law but nonetheless engage in extensive procurement activities of their own.

Group 99.0 within Section U covers the following classes:

These organisations are not subject to the German GWB, the Austrian BVergG or EU Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU as contracting authorities — they do, however, have their own internal procurement rules based on international standards.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 99.0

International organisations procure goods and services on a considerable scale each year — under their own procurement rules, which represent attractive markets for undertakings.

Procurement by UN Organisations

The UN Global Marketplace (UNGM) is the central procurement portal of the UN family. Suppliers register there and are notified of tenders. UN organisations follow the Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR) and their respective supply chain manuals.

NATO Procurement

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) are the most important procurement bodies of the alliance. Defence and IT procurement follows NATO's own procurement guidelines (NATO Procurement Guide). National defence ministries additionally procure for NATO under national procurement law.

EU Institutions

The European Commission, the Council, the European Parliament and other EU bodies procure under the EU Financial Regulations (Financial Regulation, Regulation 2018/1046/EU). Tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) — EU institutions are simultaneously the operators of the TED platform and use it for their own procurement.

Embassies and Consulates

Embassies and consulates of foreign states in Germany and Austria procure goods and services locally. They are subject to the law of their home country or their own diplomatic procurement rules — not to German or Austrian procurement law. Embassy markets nonetheless offer attractive opportunities for local providers.

Relevant Procurement Platforms for NACE 99.0

Who is NACE 99.0 relevant for in procurement?

Public Contracting Authorities

National authorities interact with NACE 99.0 organisations in various ways: as hosts of embassies (host-country law), as partners in NATO projects (national contributions) or as recipients of EU funding (obliged to comply with EU procurement rules when spending the funds).

Companies and Bidders

For companies interested in international organisations:

• UNGM registration: Prerequisite for participation in UN tenders; requires company profiling and qualification
• NATO supplier database: Registration with NSPA and NCIA required
• EU Financial Regulation: Knowledge of EU procurement rules and EU data protection
• Language skills: English and where applicable French as procedural languages
• Compliance: Strict anti-corruption, anti-money-laundering and sanctions-list checks

NACE 99.0 in Context: Section U

• NACE U – Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies: Parent section
• NACE 84 – Public administration: National public administration

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 99.0 and Public Tenders

Are EU institutions subject to European procurement law? EU institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council) are not addressees of the EU procurement directives — these are addressed to the Member States. EU institutions procure under the EU Financial Regulation, which enshrines comparable principles (transparency, competition, equal treatment) and likewise uses TED for publication.

How can a German company participate in UN procurement? By registering with UNGM (UN Global Marketplace). After registration, companies can respond to tenders of the various UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, etc.). Qualification requirements vary by procurement category and contract value.

Must embassies tender their procurement in Germany? Foreign embassies in Germany are generally not subject to German procurement law — they enjoy diplomatic immunity (Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, VCDR). Nonetheless, many embassies procure transparently and run informal bidding procedures.

Do special export-control rules apply to NACE 99.0 organisations? Yes. Supplies to international organisations may be subject to export-control rules — in particular for dual-use goods, defence goods and technology. The Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG), the EU Dual-Use Regulation and where applicable ITAR provisions 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.